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BASS, PIKE, PERCH 
AND OTHERS 




THE BLACK BASS 

'Inch for Inch and Pound for Pound 
THE Gamest Fish that Swims' ' 



BASS, PIKE, PERCH 

AND OTHER GAME FISHES 
OF AMERICA 



BY 

JAMES A. HENSHALL, M.D. 

Author of "Book oj the Black-Bass," ^'Camping and 

Cruising in Florida," "Ye Gods and 

Little Fishes," etc. 



NEW EDITION 



CINCINNATI 

STEWART & KIDD COMPANY 
1919 



5^ 



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Coturlehl, ;«»», by 
Thi Macmiltan Company 



Copyright, 1919, by 
STEWART & KIDD COMPANY 

A II rights reserved 
Copyright in England 






INTRODUCTION 

In this volume are included all the Gamc-Fishcs 
of the United States inhabiting the fresh water 
lakes and streams east of the Rocky Mountains, 
and the marine and brackish waters of the Atlan- 
tic and Gulf Coasts. 

As a matter of convenience I have grouped the 
fishes in families, wherever possible, but in their 
sequence I have been guided, chiefly, by their 
importance as game-fishes, and not in accordance 
with their natural order. The latter feature, 
however, has been provided for in a systematic 
list on a subsequent page. 

In order not to burden the text with matter 
that might not be of general interest, the tech- 
nical descriptions of the fishes of each group are 
given in small type at the head of each chapter; 
and that they may be readily understood by the 
lay reader the following explanations seem nec- 
essary : 

The length of the head is from the point of the snout 
to the hindmost point or margin of the gill-cover. 

V 



vi Introduction 

The length of the body is from the point of the snout 
to the base of the caudal fin, the fin itself not being in- 
cluded. 

The depth of the body is from the highest point of the 
dorsal line to the lowest point of the ventral line, usually 
from the base of the first dorsal fin to the base of the 
ventral fin. 

The expression "head 5" means that the length of the 
head is contained five times in the length of the body ; 
the expression "depth 5" means that the depth of the 
body is contained five times in its length ; "eye 5" means 
that the diameter of the eye is contained five times in 
the length of the head. 

In describing the fins the spiny rays are denoted by 
Roman numerals, and the soft rays by Arabic numerals, 
and the fins themselves by initials; thus "D 9" means 
that the dorsal fin is single and composed of nine soft 
rays; "D. IX, 10" means that the single dorsal fin has 
nine spiny rays and ten soft rays; when separated by a 
hyphen as " D. X-12," it means that there are two 
dorsal fins, the first composed of ten spiny rays and the 
second of twelve soft ones; "A. Ill, 11" means that the 
anal fin has three spiny rays and eleven soft rays. 

The expression "scales 7-65-18" indicates that there 
are seven rows of scales between the dorsal fin and the 
lateral line, sixty-five scales along the lateral line, and 
eighteen oblique or horizontal rows between the lateral 
line and the ventral line. 

The number of rays in the fins and the number of 
scales along the lateral line, as given, represents the 
average number, and is subject to slight variation ; thus 
in some localities the number of rays in a fin may be 



Introduction vii 

found to vary one or two, and the number of scales 
along the lateral line may vary from one to five, more or 
less, from the number given in the descriptions. 

I have adhered strictly to the nomenclature 
of the "Fishes of North and Middle America" 
(Bulletin U. S. National Museum, No. 47), by 
Jordan & Evermann, and in the main I have fol- 
lowed the descriptions as recorded in that ad- 
mirable work; but in many instances I have de- 
pended on my own notes. 

The suggestions as to angling and the tools and 
tackle recommended may be confidently relied on, 
as they are in conformity with my own practice, 
and are based on my personal experience, cover- 
ing a period of more than sixty years, on many 
waters, from Canada to the West Indies, and 
from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains. 

JAMES ALEXANDER HENSHALL. 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 



SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE FISHES 
DESCRIBED IN THIS VOLUME 

Family SILURIDiE 
Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). The Channel Catfish. 

Family CYPRINIDiE 
Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus. The German Carp. 

Family ELOPIDiE 
Elops saurus, Linnaeus. The Ten-pounder. 

Family ALBULID.^ 
Albula vulpes (Linnaeus). The Lady-Fish. 

Family SALMONIDiE 

Coregonus williamsoni, Girard. The Rocky Mountain Whitefish. 
Argyrosomus artedi sisco, Jordan. The Cisco. 

Family THYMALLIDiE 
Thymallus signifer (Richardson). The Arctic Grayling. 
Thymallus tricolor, Cope. The Michigan Grayling. 
Thymallus montanus, Milner. The Montana Grayling. / 

Family ARGENTINID^ 
Osmerus mordax (Mitchill) . The Smelt. ' 

Family ESOCID^ 

Esox americanus, Gmelin. The Banded Pickerel. 
Esox vermiculatus, Le Sueur. The Western Pickerel. 



X Systematic Arrangement of Fishes 

Esox reticulatus, Le Sueur. The Eastern Pickerel. 

Esox lucius, Linnaeus. The Pike. 

Esox nobilior, Thompson. The Mascalonge. 

Family HOLOCENTRIDiE 
Holocentrus ascensionis (Osbeck) . The Squirrel Fish. 

Family SCOMBRIDiE 

Sarda sarda (Bloch). The Bonito. 

Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitchill). The Spanish Mackerel. 

Scomberomorus regalis (Bloch). The Cero. 

Family CARANGID.® 
Carangus crysos (Mitchill). The Runner. 
Carangus latus (Agassiz). The Horse-eye Jack. 
Trachinotus glaucus (Bloch). The Gaff Top-sail Pompano. 
Trachinotus goodei, Jordan & Evermann. The Permit. 
Trachinotus carolinus (Linnasus). The Pompano. 

Family RACHYCENTRIDiE 
Rachycentron canadus (Linnaeus). The Cobia.> 

Family CENTRARCHID^ 

Pomoxis annularis, Rafinesque. The Crappie. 

Pomoxis sparoides (Lacdp^de). The Calico-bass. 

Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque) . The Rock-bass. 

Archoplites interruptus (Girard). The Sacramento Perch. 

Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). The Warmouth 
Perch. 

Lepomis auritus (Linnaeus). The Red-breast Sunfish. 

Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque). The Long-eared Sunfish. 

Lepomis pallidus (Mitchill). The Blue Sunfish. 

Eupomotis gibbosus (Linnaeus). The Common Sunfish. 

Micropterus dolomieu, Lac^p&de. The Small-mouth Black-bass. 

Micropterus salmoides (Lac^p^de). The Large-mouth Black- 
bass. 



Systematic Arrangement of Fishes xi 



Family PERCID^ 

Stizostedion vitreum (Mitchill). The Pike-perch. 
Stizostedion canadense (Smith). The Sauger. 
Perca flavescens (Mitchill). The Yellow Perch. 

Family CENTROPOMIDiE 
Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch). The Snook, or Rovallia. 

Family SERRANID^ 

Roccus chrysops (Rafinesque) . The White-bass. 
Roccus lineatus (Bloch) . The Striped-bass. 
Morone interrupta, Gill. The Yellow-bass. 
Morone americana (Gmelin). The White Perch. 
Petrometopon cruentatus (Lacep^de). The Coney. 
Bodianus fulvus (Linnaeus). The Nigger Fish. 
Epinephelus adscensionis (Osbeck) . The Rock Hind. 
Epinephelus guttatus (Linnaeus). The Red Hind. 
Mycteroperca venenosa (Linnsus). The Yellow Fin Grouper. 
Mycteroperca microlepis (Goode & Bean). The Gag. 
Mycteroperca falcata phenax, Jordan & Swain. The Scamp. 
Centropristes striatas (Linnaeus). The Sea-bass. 
Centropristes ocyurus (Jordan & Evermann) . The Gulf Sea-bass. 
Centropristes philadelphicus (Linnaeus). The Southern Sea-bass. 
Diplectrum formosum (Linnaeus). The Sand-fish. 

Family LOBOTID^ 
Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch) . The Triple Tail. 

Family LUTIANIDiE 

Lutianus jocu (Bloch & Schneider). The Dog Snapper. 
Lutianus apodus (Walbaum). The Schoolmaster. 
Lutianus aya (Bloch). The Red Snapper. 
Lutianus synagris (Linnsus). The Lane Snapper. 
Ocyurus chrysurus (Bloch) . The Yellowtail. 



xii Systematic Arrangement of Fishes 



Family ILffiMULIDJE 
Haemulon album. Curvier & Valenciennes. The Margate-fish. 
Haemulon macrostomum, Gunther. The Gray Grunt. 
Haemulon parra (Desmarest). The Sailor's Choice. 
Haemulon sciurus (Shaw). The Yellow Grunt. 
Hamulon plumieri (Lact5pi^de). The Black Grunt. 
Haemulon flavolineatum (Desmarest). The French Grunt. 
Anisotremus virginicus (Linnaeus). The Pork-fish. 
Orthopristis chrysopterus (Linnseus). The Pig-fish. 

Family SPARID^ 
Stenotomus chrysops (Linnseus). The Scup. 
Stenotomus aculeatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). The Southern 

Porgy. 
Calamus calamus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). The Saucer-eye 

Porgy. 
Calamus proridens, Jordan & Gilbert. The Little Head Porgy. 
Calamus bajonado (Bloch & Schneider). The Jolt Head Porgy. 
Calamus arctifrons, Goode & Bean. The Grass Porgy. 
Lagodon rhomboides (Linnteus). The Pin-fish. 
Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum). The Sheepshead. 

Family KYPHOSIDJE 
Kyphosus sectatrix (Linnsus) . The Bermuda Chub. 

Family SCIiENIDiE 

Cynoscion nothus (Holbrook). The Bastard Weakfish. 

Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider). The Weakfish. 

Cynoscion thalassinus (Holbrook). The Deep-water Weakfish. 

Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). The Spotted 
Weakfish. 

Leiostomus xanthurus. Lac(fp^de. The Lafayette, or Spot. 

Micropogon undulatus (Linmtus). The CroaJcer. 

Menticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch & Schneider). The Kingfish. 

Aplodinotus grunniens, Rafinesque. The Fresh-water Drum- 
fish. 



Systematic Amingement of Fishes xiii 

Family LABRID^ 
Tautogolabrus adspersus (Walbaum). The Cunner. 

Family EPHIPPID^ 
Chaetodipterus faber (Broussonet). The Angel-fish. 

Family BALISTID^ 
Balistes carolinensis, Gmelin. The Turbot. 

Family PLEURONECTIDiE 
Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum). The Flounder. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I 

The Sunfish Family, Centrarchidce .... 
The Small-mouth Black-bass, Micropterus dolomieu 
The Large-mouth Black-bass, Micropterus salrnoides 
The Rock-bass, Amblopiites rupestris 
The Sacramento Perch, Archoplites interruptus 
The Warmouth Perch, Chcenobrytttis gidostis 
The Blue Sunfish, Lepomis pallidus 
The Long-eared Sunfish, Lepomis megalotis 
The Red-breast Sunfish, Lepomis auritus 
The Common Sunfish, Eupomotis gibbosus 
The Calico-bass, Pomoxis sparoides 
The Crappie, Pomoxis atmularis 



FAGS 
I 
3 

30 

52 

57 
58 
62 

65 
67 
69 
73 
79 



CHAPTER II 

The Bass Family, Serranidtz 

The White-bass, Roccus chrysops . 
The Yellow-bass, Morone interrupta 



CHAPTER III 

The Sea-bass Family, Serranidce (continued) ... 95 

The Striped-bass, Roccus lineatus 96 

The White-perch, Morone americana . . . .110 
The Sea-bass, Centropristes striatus . . . • 115 
The Southern Sea-bass, Ceittropristes philadelphicus . 118 
The Guli Sea.-h2iss, Ceniroprisfes ocyurus . . .119 



xvi Contents 



CHAPTER IV 



PAGE 

120 
122 

137 
149 

153 
154 



The Pike Family, Esocidce .... 
The Mascalonge, Esox nobilior 
The Pike, Esox lucius .... 
The Eastern Pickerel, Esox reticttlattcs . 
The Western Pickerel, Esox vermictilatus 
The Banded Pickerel, Esox americanus . 

CHAPTER V 

The Perch Family, Percidce 156 

The 'Pi\!iQ--peYc\ Stisostedion vitreum . . . -157 
The Sanger, Stizostedion canadense . . . .164 
The Yellow-perch, Perca flavescens 165 

CHAPTER VI 

The Grayling Family, Thymallida ..... 173 
'Y\iQ hxc\\cCiX2i^\vcig,Thy7nallus signifer . . .176 

The Michigan Grayling, 7'/^/;««////i' /rz(:^/<3r . . .178 
The Montana Grayling, Thymallus montanus . .181 

CHAPTER VII 

The Salmon Family, Salmonida 203 

The Rocky Mountain Whitefish, Coregonus williamsoni . 204 
The Cisco, Argyrosof/ius artedi sisco .... 207 

CHAPTER VIII 

The Drum Family, ScicEnidce 213 

The Weakfish, Cynoscion regalis . . . . .215 
The Bastard Weakfish, Cynoscion twthus . . .221 



Contents xvii 



PAGE 

The Kingfish, Menticirrhns saxatilis . . . .221 

The Croaker, Micropogoti undulatus .... 226 

The Lafayette, Leiostomus xanthurus .... 228 

CHAPTER IX 

The Drum Family, Scianida; (continued) .... 232 

The Fresh-water Drumfish, Aplodinotus grunniens . . 232 

CHAPTER X 

The Minnow Family, Cyprinidcs 236 

The German Carp, Cyprinus carpio .... 236 

CHAPTER XI 

The Catfish Family, SiluridcB 244 

The Channel-catfish, Ictalums punctatus . . . 244 

CHAPTER XII 

The Sheepshead Family, Sparidce 251 

The Sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus . . 252 

The Scup, Stenototmis chrysops ..... 259 

CHAPTER XIII 

Miscellaneous Fishes 

The Cunner, Tmdogolabrtis adspersus ..... 264 

The Flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus . . . 266 

The Smelt, Osmeriis mordax 269 

CHAPTER XIV 

The Mackerel Family, Scombridcs 272 

The Spanish Mackerel, Scomberotnorns macidatus . .273 

The Cero, Scomberomonis regalis ..... 278 

The Bonito, Sarda sarda 282 



XVlll 



Contents 



CHAPTER XV 



The Grouper Family, Scrranidce 

The Gag, Mycteropcrca microlepis . 

The Scamp, Myctcroperca falcata phcnax 

The Yellow-finned Grouper, Myderoperca venenosa 

The Rock Hind, Epinephelus adscensionis 

The Red Hind, Epinephelus giUtatus 

The Coney, Petromctopon cruentatus 

The Nigger-fish, Bodianus fulviis . 

The Sand-fish, Diplcctrum formosiitn 



PAGE 

287 
291 
294 
29s 
297 
299 
300 
303 



CHAPTER XVI 



The Cavalli Family, Cnransidcc 
The Runner, Carangus chrysos 
The Horse-eye Jack, Carattfftis latus 
The Pompano, Trachinotus carolintts 



306 

307 
310 

3" 



CHAPTER XVn 

The Channel Fishes 

The Grunt Family, Hcumididce . 

The Black Grunt, Hcemulon plumieri 
The Yellow Grunt, Hcamulon sciurus 
The Margate-fish, Hcrmulon album 
The Sailor's Choice, Hcrnmlon parra 
The Pig-fish, Orthopristis chrysopterus 
The Pork -fish, Anisotremus virginicus 

The Snapper Family, Lutianidcc 
The Yellow-tail, Ocyurus chrysun^us 
The Lane Snapper, Lutianus synagris 



321 

323 
326 
328 
330 
331 
334 

336 
338 
339 



Contents 



XIX 



The Red Snapper, Lutiatius aya 
The Dog Snapper, Lutianus jocu 
The Schoolmaster, Lutianus apodus 



The Porgy Family, Sparidcc 

The Jolt-head Porgy, Calamus bajonado 
The Saucer-eye Porgy, Calamus cala?nus 
The Little-head Porgy, Calatnus proridens 
The Grass Porgy, Calamus arctifrons 



FAGS 

344 

345 

347 
348 
350 
352 
353 



CHAPTER XVIII 



Miscellaneous Fishes 



The Lady-fish, Albula vuipes 

The Ten-pounder, Elops saurus 

The Snook, Centropotnus undecimalis 

The Triple-tail, Lobotes surinamensis 

The Cobia, Kachycentron canadus . 

The Spotted Weakfish, Cynoscion nebulosus 

The Deep-sea Weakfish, Cynoscion thalassinus 

The Bermuda Chub, Kyphosus sectatrix . 

The Angel-fish, ChcBtodipterus faber 

The Pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides . 

The Squirrel-fish, Holocottrus ascensionis 

The Turbot, Balistes carolinensis . 



355 
361 
366 

370 
373 
376 
381 
382 
384 
386 
388 
390 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

Where the Bass bite well .... Frontispiece 

PAGE 

Oswego (Large-mouth) Bass 36 

The Small-mouth Black-bass. The Large-mouth 

Black-bass. The Rock-bass 62 

Surf-flshing for Bass 96 

Catching Sea-bass off Newport 100 

The Sea-bass. The Mascalonge. The Pike . .114 
The Mascalonge of the Weeds. Trolling with Hand- 
line 120 

The Eastern Pickerel. The Western Pickerel. The 

Pike-perch. The Yellow-perch . . . .140 
The Arctic Grayling. The Michigan Grayling. The 

Montana Grayling 174 

The More Sportsmanly Way of catching Mascalonge 200 

The Weakfish. The Kingfish. The German Carp . 226 

The Channel-catfish. The Sheepshead. The Cunner 2^4 

Fishing for Cunners 250 

The Flounder. The Smelt. The Spanish Mackerel 264 

The Bonito. The Nigger-fish. The Pompano . . 280 
Catching Spanish Mackerel on the Edge of the Gulf 

Stream 300 

The Black Grunt. The Red Snapper . . . .322 

The Jolt-head Porgy. The Lady-fish. The Cobia . 348 

Taking Bonito by trolling off Block Island . . 350 

The Angel-fish. Tuic Turbot 384 

xxi 



BASS, PIKE, AND PERCH 

CHAPTER I 

THE SUNFISH FAMILY 
( Centrarchidce) 

The sunfish family is composed entirely of 
fresh-water fishes. They are characterized by 
a symmetrically-shaped body, rather short and 
compressed; mouth terminal; teeth small, with- 
out canines; scales rather large; cheeks and gill- 
covers scaly; scales mostly smooth; border of 
preopercle smooth, or but slightly serrated; 
opercle ending in two flat points, or in a black 
flap; a single dorsal fin, composed of both spiny 
and soft rays; anal fin also having both spines 
and soft rays; the dorsal spines varying from 6 
to 13 in the different species, with from 3 to 9 
in the anal fin; sexes similar; coloration mostly 
greenish. 

GENUS MICROPTERUS 

Microptertis dolomieu. Small-mouth Black-bass. Body ovate- 
oblong; head 3; depth 3; eye 6; D. X, 13; A. HI, 10; scales 
11-73-17; mouth large, the maxillary reaching front of eye; 
scales on cheek minute, in 17 rows ; teeth villiform. 



2 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

Micropterus salmoides. Large-mouth Black-bass. Body ovate- 
oblong; head 3 ; depth 3 ; eye 5 ; D. X, 13 ; A. Ill, 11 ; scales 
8-68-16; scales on cheek large, in 10 rows; mouth very large, 
maxillary extending beyond the eye ; teeth villiform. 

GENUS AMBLOPLITES 

Ambloplites riipestris. Rock-bass. Body oblong, moderately com- 
pressed ; head 2J; depth 2^; eye 4; D. XI, 10; A. VI, 10; 
scales 5-40-12, with 6 to 8 rows on cheeks ; mouth large, maxil- 
lary extending to posterior part of pupil ; teeth small, single 
patch on tongue; gill-rakers 7 to 10, on lower part of arch; 
preopercle serrate near its angle ; opercle ends in 2 flat points. 

GENUS ARCHOPLITES 

Archoplites interrupt us. Sacramento Perch. Body oblong-ovate, 
compressed; head 2| ; depth 2\\ eye 4; D. XII, 10; A. VI, 
10; scales 7-45-14; 8 rows on checks; mouth very large, 
maxillary extending beyond pupil; teeth numerous and small, 
with 2 patches on tongue ; gill-rakers 20 ; opercle emarginate ; 
most of the membrane bones of head serrate. 

GENUS CH.ENOBRYTTUS 

Chcenobrytttis gulosus. Warmouth Perch. Body heavy and deep ; 
head2i; depth 2I ; eye 4; D. X,9; A. Ill, 8; scales 6-42-1 1 ; 
6 to 8 rows on cheeks ; teeth small and numerous ; gill-rakers 
9; preopercle entire; mouth very large; opercle ends in a 
black convex flap. 

GENUS LEPOMIS 

Lepomis pallidiis. Blue Sunfish. Body short and deep, com- 
pressed; head 3; depth 2; eye 3^ ; D. X, 12; A. Ill, 12; 
scales 7-46-16; 5 rows on cheeks; mouth small, maxillary 
barely reaching eye; teeth small and sharp; opercular flap 
without pale edge; gill-rakers ;r-|- 11 to 13. 

Lepomis megalotis. Long-eared Sunfish. Body short and deep, the 
back arched ; head 3 ; depth 2 ; eye4 ; D. X, 1 1 ; A. Ill, 9 ; scales 
5-40-14 ; 5 rows on cheeks ; mouth small and oblique ; opercular 
flap long and broad, with red or blue margin ; gill-rakers x-\- 8 or 9. 



The Sunfish Family 3 

Lepomis auritus. Red-breast Sunfish. Body elongate; head 3; 
depth 3; eye 4; D. X, 11 ; A. Ill, 9; scales 6-45-15; mouth 
large, oblique ; palatine teeth present ; gill-rakers jf 4- 8 or 9, 
quite short ; opercular flap very long and narrow ; scales on 
breast very small ; 7 rows scales on cheeks. 

GENUS EUPOMOTIS 

Eupomotis gibbosus. Common Sunfish. Body short and deep, 
compressed; head 3; depth 2; eye 4; D. X, 11; A. Ill, 10; 
scales 6-45-13 ; 4 rows on cheeks ; mouth small, oblique, max- 
illary scarcely reaching front of eye; pharyngeal teeth paved 
and rounded; gill-rakers soft and small, x-\-\o\ opercular flap 
rather small, the lower part bright scarlet. 

GENUS POMOXIS 

Pomoxis sparoides. Calico-bass. Body oblong, elevated, much 
compressed ; head 3 ; depth 2 ; D. VII, 15 ; A. VI, 17 ; scales 
40 to 45 ; 6 rows on cheeks ; mouth large, maxillary reaching 
to posterior edge of pupil ; snout projecting ; fins very high, anal 
higher than dorsal. 

Pomoxis annularis. Crappie. Body rather elongate ; head 3 ; 
depth 2\ ; D. VI, 15 ; A. VI, 18 ; scales 36 to 48 ; 4 or 5 rows 
on cheek ; mouth very wide ; fins very high, but lower than 
sparoides. 



THE SMALL-MOUTH BLACK-BASS 

(^Micropterus dolofnieit) 

The generic name Micropterus was given to 
the small-mouth black-bass by the French ich- 
thyologist Lacepede, in 1802, who was the first 
to describe it The name Micropterus, which 
means "small fin," was bestowed on account of 
the mutilated condition of the dorsal fin of 



4 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

the specimen, a few of the posterior rays 
of the fin being detached and broken off, 
giving the appearance of a short and sepa- 
rate fin. The specimen was sent to Paris 
from an unknown locality in America, and is 
still preserved in the Museum of Natural His- 
tory at Paris, where I personally examined it. 
It is a line example, about a foot in length, and 
is remarkably well preserved. As there was no 
known genus to which the specimen with the 
curious dorsal fin could be referred, Lacepede 
created the new genus Microptcnts. He gave 
it the specific name doloniicu as a compliment 
to his friend M. Dolomieu, a P'rench mineralo- 
gist, for whom the mineral dolomite was also 
named. 

Originally, the small-mouth black-bass was 
restricted to the Great Lake region, parts of the 
Ohio and Mississippi valleys, and along the upper 
reaches of streams fiowing from the Alleghany 
Mountains in the Southern states. It has, how- 
ever, been introduced into all of the New P^ng- 
land and Middle states, and into many Western 
states. It has a compressed, rather elliptical 
body, the dorsal and ventral outlines being nearly 
equal ; it becomes deeper with age. 



The Sunfish Family 5 

As its range, or distribution, is so great and 
extensive, and the waters it inhabits arc so differ- 
ent in hue and character, the coloration of the 
small-mouth bass varies from almost black to the 
faintest tinge of green, in different sections of 
the country. The coloration is so variable that 
it differs even in fish in the same waters. It is 
influenced mostly by the hue of the water, char- 
acter of the bottom, the presence or absence of 
weeds about the haunts of the bass, and, more- 
over, the changes in color may occur in a very 
short time when subject to these various condi- 
tions. The general color, however, is greenish 
of various shades, always darker on the back, and 
paling to white or whitish on the belly. When 
markings are present, they form vertical patches 
or bars, never horizontal. Three bronze streaks 
extend from the eye across the cheeks. All 
markings, however, may become obsolete with 
age. 

The natural food of both species is crawfish, 
which might be inferred from the character of 
their teeth and wide-opening mouth. There is 
a popular belief that they are essentially and 
habitually piscivorous ; but this is an error ; they 
are not so black as they are painted. They feed 



6 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

on minute crustaceans and larval forms of insects 
when young, and afterward on crawfish, minnows, 
frogs, insects, etc., as do most fishes that have 
teeth in the jaws. But the teeth of the black- 
bass are villiform and closely packed, presenting 
an even surface as uniform as the surface of a 
tooth-brush. Such teeth are incapable of wound- 
ing, and merely form a rough surface for holding 
their prey securely. All truly piscivorous fishes 
have fewer, but sharp, conical teeth, of unequal 
length, like the yellow-perch, pike-perch, masca- 
longe, and trout, or lancet-shaped teeth like the 
bluefish. 

The black-bass is far less destructive to fish 
life than any of the fishes mentioned; on the 
contrary, it suffers the most in a mixed com- 
munity of fishes, and is the first to disappear. 
There are small lakes in Canada and Michigan 
where the brook-trout and black-bass have co- 
existed from time immemorial without jeopardy 
to the trout. There are small lakes in Wisconsin 
where black-bass and cisco, with other species, 
have coexisted for all time ; and while the cisco 
is as numerous as ever, the black-bass has almost 
disappeared. It does not follow, however, that 
black-bass should be introduced in trout waters ; 



The Sunfisb Family 7 

far from it. Brook-trout are being exterminated 
fast enough, owing to the changed natural condi- 
tions of the streams and their surroundings, 
without adding another contestant for the limited 
supply of food in such waters. 

Both species of black-bass have been intro- 
duced into Germany, France, Russia, and the 
Netherlands. In Germany, especially, they have 
found a permanent home. It was my privilege 
materially to assist Herr Max von dem Borne, 
of Berneuchen, with such advice as enabled him 
to start on a sure footing in his enterprise, and 
with such subsequent success in its establishment 
that he published several brochures on the black- 
bass to meet the demand for information as to its 
habits and merits as a game- and food-fish. An 
effort was made some years ago to introduce the 
black-bass into English waters, but without suc- 
cess, owing to a want of knowledge as to the 
proper species to experiment with. The small- 
mouth bass was placed in weedy ponds or small 
lakes in which only the large-mouth bass would 
live. 

The small-mouth bass thrives only in compara- 
tively clear, cool, and rocky or gravelly streams, 
and in lakes and ponds supplied by such streams 



8 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

or having cold bottom springs. In lakes of the 
latter character, in northern sections, it coexists 
with large-mouth bass in many instances. In 
such cases, however, the small-mouth will be 
found usually at the inlet, or about the springs, 
and the large-mouth at the outlet or in sheltered, 
grassy situations. In winter it undergoes a state 
of partial or complete torpidity. In ponds that 
have been drained in the winter season it has 
been found snugly ensconced in the crevices of 
rocks, beneath shelving banks, logs, roots, or 
among masses of vegetation, undergoing its 
winter sleep. In the spring, when the tempera- 
ture of the water rises above fifty degrees, the 
small-mouth bass emerges from its winter quar- 
ters, about which it lingers until the water be- 
comes still warmer, when it departs in search of 
suitable locations for spawning. At this time, 
owing to a semi-migratory instinct, it ascends 
streams, and roams about in lakes or ponds, often 
ascending inlet streams, or in some instances 
descending outlet streams. 

When favorable situations are found, the male 
and female pair off and proceed to fulfil the 
reproductive instinct. The spawning period 
extends from May to July, according to the 



The Simfisb Family g 

section of the country it inhabits, and when the 
temperature of the water is suitable. The nests 
are formed on a bottom of gravel or coarse sand, 
or on a flat rock in very rocky streams. The 
male fish does the work of preparation by scour- 
ing with fins and tail a space about twice his 
length in diameter, forming a shallow, saucer- 
shaped depression, in which the female deposits 
her eggs, which are fertilized by the male, who 
hovers near by. The eggs are heavy and adhe- 
sive, being invested with a glutinous matter that 
enables them to adhere to the pebbles on the 
bottom. The number of eggs varies from two 
thousand to twenty-five thousand, according to 
the size and weight of the female. The nest 
is carefully guarded by the parents until the eggs 
hatch, the period of incubation being from one 
to two weeks, according to the temperature of the 
water. The resultant fry are then watched and 
brooded by the male fish for several days or a 
week, when they seek the shelter of weeds and 
grasses in shallow water. 

The young fry feed on minute crustaceans and 
the larval forms of insects. When a month old 
they are about an inch long, and continue to 
grow, if food is plentiful, so that they reach a 



lo Bass, Pike, and Perch 

length of from three to six inches in the fall. 
Thereafter they increase a pound a year under 
the most favorable conditions, until the maximum 
weight is attained, which is about five pounds. 
In some instances, however, they have reached a 
weight of seven or even ten pounds, where the 
environment has been unusually favorable; not- 
ably in Glen Lake, near Glens Falls, New York, 
where a half-dozen or more have been taken 
weighing from eight to ten pounds. One of ten 
pounds was twenty-five and one-half inches long 
and nineteen inches in girth. 

As a game-fish the black-bass has come into 
his inheritance. As the French say, he has ar- 
rived. With the special tools and tackle now 
furnished for his capture, he has proved my apho- 
rism, " Inch for inch, and pound for pound, he 
is the gamest fish that swims." When I ventured 
this opinion twenty-five years ago, there were no 
special articles made for his capture except the 
Kentucky reel and the McGinnis rod, twelve feet 
long and fifteen ounces in weight. In awarding 
the palm as a game-fish to the black-bass, I do so 
advisedly, in the light of ample experience with 
all other game-fishes, and without prejudice, for I 
have an innate love and admiration for all, from 



The Sunfish Family ii 

the lovely trout of the mountain brook to the 
giant tarpon of the sea. 

In the application of so broad and sweeping an 
assertion each and every attribute of a game-fish 
must be well considered : his habitat ; his aptitude 
to rise to the fly ; his struggle for freedom ; his 
manner of resistance ; his weight as compared 
with other game-fishes ; and his excellence as a 
food-fish, must be separately and collectively con- 
sidered and duly and impartially weighed. His 
haunts are amid most charming and varied 
scenes. Not in the silent and solemn solitudes 
of the primeval forests, where animated Nature is 
evidenced mainly in swarms of gnats, black-flies, 
and mosquitoes ; nor under the shadows of grand 
and lofty mountains, guarded by serried ranks of 
pines and firs, but whose sombre depths are void 
of feathered songsters. However grand, sublime, 
and impressive such scenes truly are, they do not 
appeal profoundly to the angler. He must have 
life, motion, sound. He courts Nature in her 
more communicative moods, and in the haunts 
of the black-bass his desires are realized. Wad- 
ing down the rippling stream, casting his flies 
hither and yon, alert for the responsive tug, the 
sunlight is filtered through overhanging trees. 



12 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

while tlie thrusli, blackbird, and cardinal render 
the air vocal with sweet sounds, and his rival, 
the kingfisher, greets him with vibrant voice. 
The summer breeze, laden with the scent of 
woodland blossoms, whispers among the leaves, 
the wild bee flits by on droning wing, the squir- 
rel barks defiantly, and the tinkle of the cow-bell 
is mellowed in the distance. I know of such 
streams in the mountain valleys of West Virginia, 
amid the green rolling hills of Kentucky and 
Tennessee, and in the hill country where Mis- 
souri and Arkansas meet. 

The aptitude of the black-bass to rise to the 
artificial fly is not questioned by the twentieth- 
century angler, though it was considered a matter 
of doubt by many anglers during the last quarter 
of the nineteenth. The doubt was mainly owing 
to a lack of experience, for fly-fishing for black- 
bass was successfully practised in Kentucky as 
early, certainly, as 1845. I have before me a 
click reel made in 1S48 by the late Mr. J. L. 
Sage, of Lexington, Kentucky, especially for fly- 
fishing. I have also seen his fiy-rod made by 
him about the same time, and used by him for 
many years on the famous bass streams of that 
state. And I might say, in passing, that black- 



The Sunjisb Family 13 

bass bait-fishing, as an art, originated in Ken- 
tucky a century ago. George Snyder, of Paris, 
Kentucky, when president of the Bourbon 
County AngHng Club, made the first multiplying 
reel for casting the minnow, in 18 10, and as early 
as 1830 many such reels were used in that state. 
The rods employed by those pioneers of black- 
bass fishing were about ten feet long, weighing 
but several ounces, cut from the small end of a 
Mississippi cane, with the reel lashed to the butt. 
They used the smallest Chinese "sea-grass" lines, 
or home-made lines of three strands of black sew- 
ing-silk twisted together. Those old disciples of 
Walton would have been shocked, could they 
have seen the heavy rods and coarse lines that 
are still used in some sections, for their own 
tackle was as light, if not so elegant, as any made 
at the present day. 

Another quality in a game-fish is measured by 
his resistance when hooked and by his efforts to 
escape. I think no fish of equal weight exhibits 
so much finesse and stubborn resistance, under 
such conditions, as the black-bass. Most fishes 
when hooked attempt to escape by tugging and 
pulling in one direction, or by boring toward the 
bottom, and if not successful in breaking away 



14 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

soon give up the unequal contest. But the black- 
bass exhibits, if not intelligence, something akin to 
it, in his strategical manoeuvres. Sometimes his 
first effort is to bound into the air at once and 
attempt to shake out the hook, as if he knew his 
misfortune came from above. At other times he 
dashes furiously, first in one direction, then in 
another, pulling strongly meanwhile, then leaps 
into the air several times in quick succession, 
madly shaking himself with open jaws. I have 
seen him fall on a slack line, and again by using 
his tail as a lever and the water as a fulcrum, 
throw himself over a taut line, evidently with the 
intent to break it or tear out the hook. Another 
clever ruse is to wind the line around a root or 
rock, and still another is to embed himself in a 
clump of water-weeds if permitted to do so. Or, 
finding it useless to pull straight away, he re- 
verses his tactics and swims rapidly toward the 
angler, shaking himself and working his jaws, 
meanwhile, as if he knew that with a slack line 
lie would be more apt to disengage the hook. 

I have never known a black-bass to sulk like 
the salmon by lying motionless on the bottom. 
He is never still unless he succeeds in reaching 
a bed of weeds. He is wily and adroit, but at the 



The Stmfisb Family 15 

same time he is brave and valiant. He seems to 
employ all the known tactics of other fishes, and 
to add a few of his own in his gallant fight for 
freedom. 

As a food-fish there is, in my estimation, but 
one fresh-water fish that is better, the whitefish 
of the Great Lakes. Its flesh is white, firm, and 
flaky, with a fine savor, and a juicy, succulent 
quality that is lacking with most other fresh- 
water fishes. About the spawning period, espe- 
cially in fish from weedy ponds, it is somewhat 
musky or muddy in flavor, like other fishes in 
similar situations; but by skinning the fish in- 
stead of scaling it much of that unpleasant feature 
is removed. 

BLACK-BASS TACKLE 

The first consideration for the fly-fisher is suit- 
able tools and tackle, and the most important 
article of his outfit is the fly-rod. Fortunately, 
at the present day, manufacturers turn out such 
good work that one does not have to seek far to 
obtain the best. And the best is one made of 
split bamboo by a first-class maker. Such a rod 
necessarily commands a good price, but it is the 
cheapest in the end, for with proper care it will 
last a lifetime. I have rods of this character that 



1 6 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

I have used for thirty years that arc still as good 
as new. But the angler should eschew the 
shoddy split-bamboo rods that arc sold in the 
department stores for a dollar. A wooden rod 
at a moderate price is far better than a split- 
bamboo rod at double its cost. Rods are now 
made much better, of better material, and con- 
siderably shorter and lighter than formerly, and 
withal they are much better in balance and action. 

If any evidence were needed to prove and 
establish the superiority of the modern single- 
handed fly-rod over the old-style rod, it is only 
necessary to refer to the following facts : At the 
tournament of the New York State Sportsman's 
Association, in 1880, a cast of seventy feet won 
the first prize for distance ; and at that time the 
longest on record was Seth Green's cast of 
eighty-six feet. At a contest of the San Francisco 
Fly-casting Club held on October 11, 1902, at 
Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, Mr. H. C. Golcher 
made the remarkable and wonderful cast of one 
hundred and forty feet, beating the previous rec- 
ord cast of one hundred and thirty-four feet, 
held jointly by Mr. Golcher and Mr. W. D. 
Mansfield of the same club. 

A suitable fly-rod for black-bass fishing may 



The Sunfisb Family 17 

be from nine to ten and one-half feet in length, 
and weigh from six and one-half to eight ounces, 
according to the preferences of the angler and 
the waters to be fished. 

For an all-round rod for all-round work my 
ideal is ten and a quarter feet long and weighing 
seven ounces in split bamboo and eight ounces 
in ash and lancewood, or ash and bethabara. It 
should be made in three pieces, with a stiffish back- 
bone, constituting the lower third of its length, 
and with most of the bend in the upper two- 
thirds. A rod constructed on this principle will 
afford just the requisite amount of resiliency for 
casting, with sufficient pliancy and elasticity for 
playing a fish, and embody all the power and 
strength needed. The reel-seat should be simply 
a shallow groove in the hand-piece, with reel- 
bands, instead of the solid metal reel-seat, which 
subserves no good purpose and is only added 
weight ; moreover, it is now put on the cheapest 
rods as a trap to catch the unwary. All metal 
mountings should be German silver or brass. 
Nickel-plated mountings are cheap and nasty. 

A light, single-action click reel of German sil- 
ver or aluminum of fifty or sixty yards' capacity 
is the best. A plain crank handle is to be pre- 



1 8 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

ferred to a balance handle, but in either case 
there should be a projecting rim or safety band, 
within which the handle revolves, in order to 
prevent fouling of the line. My own preference 
is for the English pattern, with a knobbed handle 
affixed to the edge of a revolving disk on the 
face of the reel. A multiplying reel with an 
adjustable click may be utilized instead of a click 
reel for fly-fishing. 

The enamelled, braided silk line is the only one 
suitable for casting the fly, and there is no better. 
A level line will answer, but a tapered one is 
better adapted for long casts. It may taper 
toward one end or both ways from the centre, 
the latter being preferable. From twenty-five to 
thirty yards is sufficient for all emergencies. It 
should be thoroughly dried every day it is used. 
A convenient way is to wind it around the back 
of a chair. 

Leaders may be from three to six feet long, 
accordingly as one or two flies are used in the 
cast. It should be composed of single, clear, 
round silkworm-gut fibre, tapering from the reel 
line to the distal end. It should not be tested to 
a greater weight than two pounds, as testing silk- 
worm gut weakens it very materially. It may be 



The Sunfisb Family 19 

stained or not, though there is no advantage in 
coloring it; I prefer the natural hue. There 
should be a loop at the small end, and one three 
feet above it, for attaching the snells of flies. 
Before using it, it must be soaked in water until 
soft and pliable. Extra leaders may be carried 
in a box between layers of damp felt, so as to be 
ready for emergencies. The best and smallest 
and most secure knot for tying the lengths of 
gut together in making the leader is a simple 
half-hitch, like tying a single knot in a piece of 
string. When thoroughly soaked, the two ends 
to be tied are lapped a couple of inches, and a 
single knot, or half-hitch made in them, pulling 
the knot tight, and cutting off the loose ends 
closely. 

Snells should be three or four inches long, of 
good single gut, the shorter length for end fly. 
If the flies are made with a loop at the head, the 
snells for same should have a loop at each end 
for attaching to both fly and leader. If flies are 
made on eyed hooks, the snell should have but 
one loop for the leader, and a free end for tying 
to the eye of hook. The best knot for the pur- 
pose is made by passing the end of snell through 
the eye of hook, then around the shank just below 



20 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

the eye, and then between the shank and snell 
and draw tight, forming a jam knot. Where the 
snell is tied to the fly, it should likewise have 
a loop for attaching to the leader. It should also 
be reinforced by a piece of gut an inch long at 
the head of the fly to strengthen it and prevent 
chafing. Snells, whether separate or tied to flies, 
should be carried like leaders between layers of 
damp felt. 

Most flies made for black-bass fishing are too 
large. The largest trout flies tied on hooks Nos. 
4 to 6 are big enough. As just mentioned, they 
are tied directly to the snell on tapered hooks, 
or made with a small gut loop at the head of the 
fly, which is much the best way. Since the intro- 
duction of the eyed hook, or rather a revival of 
it, for trout flies, they are now utilized for bass 
flies also. As between the Pennell hook with 
turned-down eye and the Hall hook with turned- 
up eye, there is not much choice. Both patterns 
are based on the old Limerick hook. I prefer 
the Sproat or O'Shaughnessy to either, with gut 
loop at the head of the fly. 

If the black-bass is not color-blind, he seems to 
have a penchant for brown, gray, black, and yel- 
low, as flies embodying these colors seem to be 



The Sunfisb Family 21 

more attractive to him than others. One can 
judge in this matter, however, only from experi- 
ence. And even then the deduction of one angler 
is often at variance with the inference of another. 

The most successful bass flies, like salmon flies, 
are not made in imitation of natural insects. This 
is true also of some of the " general " trout flies 
that have proved particularly pleasing to the 
black-bass, as the professor, grizzly king, king 
of the waters, Montreal, coachman, etc. True, 
the black, gray, red, and yellow hackles, which are 
supposed to be imitations of caterpillars, are very 
useful on nearly all waters ; but their resemblance 
to any known larval forms is very slight. 

There is a well-known rule in regard to the size 
and color of flies to be used at particular states 
and stages of the water, and in accordance with 
the time and character of the day. It is to use 
small and dark flies on bright days, with low and 
clear water ; and larger and brighter flies on dark 
days with high or turbid water, and at dusk. 
This rule is hoary with age. It has come down 
to us through past centuries with the indorsement 
of thousands of intelligent and observant anglers, 
and should be respected accordingly. It is in 
the main reliable and trustworthy. Of course 



2 2 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

there will occur exceptions to prove the rule. 
And some iconoclastic anglers at this late day, in 
view of the exceptions, declare that it is entirely 
valueless as a guide ; but they offer nothing bet- 
ter. It is true, nevertheless, and a safe rule to 
follow. 

FLY-FISHING 

To be a successful fly-fisher for black-bass the 
angler must know something of the habits of his 
quarry, or at least of its haunts and favorite places 
of resort. On streams these places are in the 
eddies of rocks or large boulders, in the deeper 
water above and below riffles, under shelving 
banks and rocks, among the submerged roots of 
trees on the bank, near weed patches, driftwood, 
and logs, and in the vicinity of gravelly bars and 
shoals. Except in cloudy weather the angler 
may rest during the noon hours, as the most 
favorable time is in the morning and late after- 
noon until dusk. If wading, the angler should 
fish down-stream, and when the shadows are long, 
should endeavor to keep the sun in front. He 
should move slowly and cautiously, making as 
little noise as possible, casting to the sides and in 
front over every likely spot. Casts of thirty or 
forty feet are usually sufficient. The flies should 



The Stmfisb Family 23 

be allowed to float down-stream, with tremulous 
motions, sidewise, to imitate the struggles of a 
drowning insect, and then permitted to sink sev- 
eral inches or a foot at each cast. 

Whipping the stream is sometimes quite suc- 
cessful where the bass does not respond to ordi- 
nary casting. This is done by casting in quick 
succession and repeatedly over one spot, allowing 
the flies merely to touch the water, until several 
such casts are made, when they should be per- 
mitted to sink, for a few seconds, as before. In 
making up the cast, two flies should be selected 
of different combinations of colors, as polka and 
professor. If necessary, changes should be made 
until two are selected that seem to meet the 
fastidious fancy of the fish. 

If a taut line is maintained, the bass usually 
hooks himself, but the angler should strike quickly 
upon feeling the slightest tug, or when seeing the 
swirl of the fish. One cannot strike too quickly. 
By striking is meant a simple turning of the 
hand sidewise, with a perfectly tight line; this 
is amply sufficient to set the hook. Should the 
line be slack and lifeless at the moment, a more 
vigorous movement is required, but even then it 
is usually too late. When a bass is hooked, the 



24 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

contest should be between rod and fish, rather 
than between the reel and fish. It is the spring 
of the rod that conquers him, not the giving and 
taking of line. If the rod is held firmly, at an 
angle of forty-five degrees, with the thumb on the 
spool of the reel, there is no likelihood of a good 
rod breaking. Line should be given grudgingly, 
and the fish kept on the surface as much as pos- 
sible. When exhausted he should be drawn over 
the landing-net and lifted out quickly, at the same 
time releasing the thumb from the reel to relieve 
the strain on the rod. 

In fishing from the bank in deeper streams, or 
from a boat on small lakes, whereby the fish is 
better enabled to see the angler, longer casts are 
necessary, or the angler must screen himself from 
observation by trees or bushes on the bank. The 
boat should be kept in the deeper water and the 
casts made toward the shallows of bars, shoals, 
and weed patches. The best time for boat fishing 
on lakes or ponds is from near sundown until 
dark. 

CASTING THE MINNOW 

The live minnow, shiner preferred, is by far the 
best bait for the black-bass, as it is more easily 
seen, and the best way of presenting it is by cast- 



The Sunfisb Family 25 

ing from the reel. For this purpose a rod eight 
or nine feet long is much better than a shorter or 
longer one. After a long series of experiments 
with rods from six to twelve feet, I arrived at 
the conclusion that the one now known as the 
Henshall rod, eight and one-fourth feet long and 
from seven to eight ounces in weight, fulfils all 
the requirements of casting, hooking, and playing 
a black-bass. It is light, strong, and of beautiful 
proportions. In first-class split bamboo it may 
be as light as six and one-half ounces, but should 
not exceed seven and one-half ounces. In ash 
and lancewood, or bethabara, from seven to eight 
ounces is the correct weight. 

A multiplying reel is indispensable. It may be 
two-, three-, or four-ply, but the best work and the 
most effective casting can only be done with the 
most perfect reel. It should be as light as possi- 
ble, in a fifty- or sixty-yard reel. German silver is 
the best material, though brass is fully as service- 
able, and costs less. Some very good reels are 
made of hard rubber and metal. 

Only braided lines should be used, as twisted 
ones kink too much in casting. Undressed silk, 
of the smallest caliber, size H, is best. Braided 
linen is stronger, but of larger caliber, and not so 



26 /iiiss, rikc, ami Penh 

siiil;il)lo for i^ood (Msting. NcilluT c:\n effective 
caslini; be done with oil-ilressed or enamelled 
lines. 

Sm^lK^d liooks on single-gut snells, si/.e No. i or 
No. ?, Sproat preferred and O'Shauglinessy next, 
are (he hesl in any nu'lhod of hail-fisliing for black- 
bass. 'IMuMv are several other styles of hooks 
nsed, but, everything (^onsidcMvd, those named are 
(he most faullless, and for shapi\ slriMigth, and 
general excellence cannot l)e excelled. 

No leader is nsed, as the minnow mnst bi' reeled 
U|) (o within a loot or two of the ti|) of the rod in 
casting. Ihe snell ol the hook is attached to the 
reel-line by (hesm.dlest brass box-swivel, or it may 
be ['\ci\ directly to tin* lini\ I'lu' casts are maile 
ln)m right oi- left and undiMhand, not overluMd 
as in casting tlu" lly. Casts oi i(k> feet have* been 
made in this way. I'he chii'f factor in this style 
ol casting is the pro|)cr control ol the reel by the 
thumb — by a gentle but constant and uniform 
pressure on the levolving spool, to j>rc^vent over- 
running of {\\v \\\\c during the cast, and a stronger 
pressure to stop the reel at the encl ol the cast. 
'Die thund) nuist be thoroughly educated to this 
work, and, owcc ac(\\\\\\\\, the rc>st is easy, as but 
little muscular i^lTort is renuiriul. The novice 



Tbi' Sun fish I'timilv 27 

FTiust bcGjin with sliort casts aiul increase their 
Iciit;tli as he heciomcs more proficient in the man- 
agement of the reel. Perfect casting from the 
reel is more (Uffic iilt than casting the fly, and more 
artistic. 

In wading a stream the casts are directed to 
the same likely i)lacc>s mentioned nnder the head 
of fly-fishing. The minnow is allowed to sink to 
half the depth of Ihe water and reeled in slowly, 
wliich gives a lifelike motion to the bait when 
hooked through the lips. If there is no res)X)nse, 
the next cast should he made to another s|)ot, as a 
bass, if inclined to take flu; lure at all, will usually 
do so upon its first j)resentati()n. 

In fly-fishing it is imj)eralivc' to strike as soon 
as the bass seizes the fly, otiierwise he ejects it at 
once, if not hooked by a taut line, for he is con- 
scious of the deception as soon as tlu; fly is taken 
into his mouth. With natural bait it is different. 
The bass first seizes the minnow crosswise or tail 
fir.st, turn.s it in his mouth, and swallows it head 
hrst. This takes a littK^ time. Usually he holds 
it in his mouth and bolts away from other fish, or 
rushes toward a .secure hiding-place ^ — hence the 
vigorous initial dash and taking of line. If stojjjx-d 
before being hooked, he gives several tugs in 



28 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

quick succession, when he should be given line 
slowly. The angler, with ihumb on the spool of 
the reel, can feel every motion of the fish. When 
he pulls steadily and strongly and increases his 
speed, the hook should be driven in by striking in 
the opposite direction to his course, or upward. 
A vigorous " yank " is not needed. With the 
strained line a movement of the tip of the rod a 
foot or two is sufificient with a sharp hook. 

If fishing from a boat, where the angler is 
more apt to be seen, it should be kept in deep 
water and the casts made toward the haunts of 
the bass in shallow water. Should the hooked 
bass break water on a long line, the slight 
straightening of the bent rod that ensues will 
tend to keep it taut, and there is nothing more 
to do. On a short line, however (the bend of 
the rod being maintained), he should be followed 
back to the water by a slight lowering of the tip, 
but it should again be raised as soon as he 
touches the water. The critical moment is when 
he is apparently standing on his tail, shaking him- 
self, with wide-opened jaws. If he is given any 
slack line at this time, the hook is likely to be 
thrown out. 

Lowering the tip to a leaping fish is a good 



The Sunfisb Family 29 

old rule when done understandingly. It has 
been ridiculed by some anglers who do not seem 
to have a clear conception of it. They claim 
that by lowering the tip it gives sufficient slack 
line to enable the fish to free himself. But if the 
rod is bent, as it should be, the simple lowering 
of the tip with a short line merely relieves it 
somewhat from the weight of the fish ; there is 
no slack line, nor could there be unless the rod 
is lowered until it is perfectly straight, which no 
wide-awake angler would permit. As the fish is 
in the air but a second or two, the careless 
angler simply does nothing, which is, perhaps, the 
best thing that could happen for him. 

Trolling is practised from a moving boat along 
the edges of weeds or rushes, or in the neigh- 
borhood of gravelly shoals and bars or rocky 
ledges. The bait may be a minnow or a very 
small trolling-spoon ; if the latter, it should have 
but a single hook. The revolving spoon is 
itself the lure, and any addition of a bunch of 
feathers, a minnow, or a strip of pork-rind does 
not add to its efficiency in the least, and more- 
over savors of pot-fishing. A rod and reel should 
always be used, as trolling with a hand-line is 
very unsportsmanlike. 



30 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

Still-fishing is practised from the bank or 
from an anchored boat. If the bait is live 
minnows, no float is necessary; but if crawfish, 
helgramites, cut-bait, or worms are employed, 
a very small float is useful to keep the bait off 
the bottom. The boat should be anchored in 
close proximity to the feeding-grounds of the 
bass, and the angler should keep as still as pos- 
sible. Contrary to the popular opinion, fish hear 
sounds, not only those made in the water, but 
those in the air as well, otherwise they would not 
be provided with so delicate an auditory appara- 
tus ; because they do not always notice sounds 
made in the air is no proof that they do not hear 
them. The suggestions already made as to the 
hooking and playing and landing the bass apply 
to still-fishing as well. The minnow is best 
hooked through both lips, but if they are very 
small, they may be hooked just under the dorsal 
fin. 

THE LARGE-MOUTH BLACK-BASS 

{Micropterus salmoides) 

The large-mouth black-bass was also first de- 
scribed by the French ichthyologist Lacepede, in 
1802, from a drawing and description sent to him 
from South Carolina by M. Bosc, under the local 



The Sunfjsh Family 31 

name of " trout-perch." Owing to the vernacular 
name, he gave it the specific name of salmoides, 
" salmon-like " or " trout-like." Thirty years be- 
fore, pressed skins of the large-mouth bass had 
been sent to Linnseus by Dr. Garden from Charles- 
ton, South Carolina, under the name of "fresh- 
water trout," but Linnaeus failed to describe or 
name it. The black-bass is called " trout " to this 
day in the Southern states. 

The large-mouth black-bass is very similar in 
appearance to the small-mouth bass. It is not 
quite so trimly built, being somewhat more 
"stocky" and robust. Its mouth is larger, the 
angle reaching behind the eye. It has larger 
scales, and those on the cheeks are not much 
smaller than those on the body, while in the 
small-mouth bass the cheek scales are very small 
compared with its body scales. The large-mouth 
is more muscular, and has a broader and more 
powerful tail. 

Its distribution is perhaps wider than that of 
any other game-fish, its range extending from 
Canada to Florida and Mexico, and, through 
transplantation, from the Atlantic to the Pa- 
cific. It has also been introduced into Germany, 
France, Russia, and the Netherlands, where it is 



32 Bass, Pike, ami Perch 

greatly esteemed bt)tli as a game-fish and food- 
fish. 

The coloration of the large-mouth bass is often 
of the same hue as the small-mouth bass, though 
usually it is not so dark, being mostly bronze- 
green, fading to white on the belly. When mark- 
ings are present, they tend to form longitudinal 
streaks of aggregated spots, and not vertical ones, 
as in the small-mouth. 

Its habits of feeding, spawning, etc., are very 
similar to those of the small-mouth. It prefers 
stiller water, and is more at home in weedy 
situations, and will thrive in cpiiet, mossy ponds 
with muddy bottom where the small-mouth would 
eventually become extinct; on the other hand, 
the large-mouth can exist wherever it is possible 
for the small-mouth to do so. It is better able 
to withstand the vicissitudes of climate and tem- 
perature, and has a wonderful adaptability that 
enables it to become reconciled to its environ- 
ment. The feeding habits of the two black- 
basses arc much the same, though they differ as 
to their haunts. The large-mouth favors weedy 
rather than rocky places, and though its food is 
also much the same, the large-mouth is j)er- 
haps more partial to frogs and minnows, in the 



The Sun fish Family 33 

absence of crawfish, which, hkc tlic other species, 
it prefers. 

Ill the Northern states it hibernates, and 
readies a maximum weiglit of six or eight 
pounds, wliile in the Gulf states, where it is ac- 
tive the year round, it is taken weighing twenty 
pounds or more. In Florida I have taken it on 
the fly up to fourteen pounds, and up to twenty 
pounds with natural bait. In waters where it 
coexists with the small-mouth bass there is no 
difference in their excellence as food-fish. I have 
often eaten the large-mouth bass from the clear- 
water lakes of Utah and Washington, that, with 
the single exception of the whitefish of Lake 
Superior, were the best of all fresh-water fishes. 
And I can truly say the same of those from some 
of the large rivers of Florida, notably the St. 
Lucie, St. Sebastian, and New rivers. 

It prefers to spawn on gravel or sand, but if 
such situations are lacking, it makes its nest on a 
clay or mud bottom, or on the roots of water- 
plants; or in ponds of very deep water without 
shallow shores, it will spawn on the top of masses 
of weeds, in order to get near enough to sunlight. 
In other respects its breeding habits are similar 
to its cousin the small-mouth, the time of incuba- 



34 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

lion and the guarding of the eggs and young 
being about the same. 

As to the mueh-mooted subject of the game- 
ness of the large-mouth bass I have no hesitation 
in saying, from an experience of nearly forty 
years, covering all sections of the country, that 
where the two species coexist there is no differ- 
ence in their game qualities. The large-mouth is 
fully the equal of the small -mouth where they are 
exposed to the same conditions. Many anglers 
profess to think otherwise, but their deductions 
are drawn from a comparison of the two species 
when subject to totally different environment; 
for it is altogether a matter of environment and 
not of physical structure or idiosyncrasy that in- 
fluences their game qualities. A small-mouth bass 
in a clear, rocky stream, highly aerated as it must 
be, is, as a matter of course, more active than a 
large-mouth bass in a quiet, weedy pond. 

With others the opinion is merely a matter of 
prejudice or hearsay, a prejudice that is, indeed, 
difficult to account for. It does not make the 
small-mouth bass a gamer fish by disparaging 
the large-mouth. As I have said elsewhere, if the 
large-mouth bass is just as game as the small- 
mouth, the angler is just that much better off. 



The Simfisb Family 35 

As prejudice and ignorance go liand in hand, we 
are not surprised when we hear persons — I do 
not style them anglers — call the small-mouth 
the "true" black-bass, implying that the large- 
mouth is not a black-bass, but is, as they often 
say, the Oswego bass, which is, of course, absurd. 
I am glad to add, however, that the prejudice 
against the large-mouth bass is dying out among 
observant anglers, who know that a trout in a 
clear stream is more vigorous than one in a 
weedy, mucky pond. 

Vrom my own experience I am pre[)ared to say 
that the large-mouth bass is more to be relied on 
in rising to the fly than the small-mouth, which 
fact should be taken into consideration when the 
gameness of the two species is compared. The 
remarks concerning fly-fishing for the small-mouth 
bass are also ajipli cable to the large-mouth, as 
both are fished for in the same way, and with the 
same tackle, except that the rod may be a little 
heavier. For the large bass of the Gulf states the 
rod should be fully eight ounces in weight, and the 
flies a trifle larger, on hooks Nos. 2 to 6; other- 
wise the tackle should be the same. 

Minnow-casting for the large-mouth need not 
differ from that described for the small-mouth 



36 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

bass. The tackle likewise may be the same, 
though for the heavy bass of Florida the rod may 
be eight, or even nine ounces, if preferred. Hooks 
may also be employed of a larger size, say Nos. i 
to i-o, or even 2-0, as larger minnows arc used 
for bait. 

Some anglers of the Middle West have adopted 
a very short rod of six feet or less for casting the 
live frog or pork-rind overhead, in the same way 
as casting a fly. This is a very primitive style of 
bait-casting, being the same as practised by bu- 
colic boys and Southern negroes using a sapling 
pole without a reel. The frog is reeled up to 
within a few inches of the tip and propelled like a 
wad of clay from a slender stick as we were wont 
to do as boys. The frog is projected with great 
accuracy, but not without a smack and splash on 
the water. With such a rod most of the pleasure 
of playing a bass to a finish is lost. Presumably 
the end justifies the means, but this method does 
not appeal to the artistic angler. If bait must be 
used, a small minnow, lightly cast from a suitable 
rod, is more in accordance with the eternal fit- 
ness of things and the practice and traditions of 
the gentle art. In very weedy ponds and lakes, 
however, where there is not open water enough 



szz: 



The Sunfish Family 37 

to play a bass, and where it must be landed as 
soon as possible, this rod and style of casting 
answer a good purpose. 

Still-fishing is the same for either species of 
black-bass, but as it is usually done from an 
anchored boat on Northern lakes, where the large- 
mouth bass is of greater size and weight than the 
small-mouth bass, somewhat heavier tackle may 
be used than recommended for the small-mouth. 

Trolling with the live or dead minnow, or a 
small spoon with a single hook, is a very success- 
ful method on lakes, ponds, and broad, still rivers. 
A greater length of line can be utilized in trolling, 
whereby the fish is not so apt to see the angler. 
More ground can also be covered than in any 
other style of fishing. The boat should be pro- 
pelled slowly along the borders of rushes and 
weed patches, over shoals and gravelly banks, 
and near projecting points of the shore. Consid- 
erable care should be exercised to move as noise- 
lessly as possible, avoiding splashing with the 
oars or paddle, or making any undue noise with 
the feet or otherwise in the boat, as such sounds 
are conveyed a long distance in so dense a 
medium as water. In trolling, the line may be 
lengthened to fifty yards, if necessary, though 



38 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

from twenty to thirty yards will usually be suffi- 
cient, especially when a good breeze is blowing. 

Bobbing for the large-mouth bass is much in 
vogue in the Gulf states, but is more often prac- 
tised in Florida. The conventional "bob" is 
formed by tying a strip of deer's tail, with or 
without a piece of red flannel, around a triangle 
of hooks, the hairs completely investing the hooks. 
A single hook, however, answers fully as well or 
better. The hook is of large size, Nos. 3-0 to 5-0. 
The method of procedure is as follows : The boat 
is propelled by a single-bladed paddle, the paddler 
being seated in the stern. The boat is moved 
silently and cautiously, skirting the edges of 
water-lilies and bonnets, which grow thickly 
along the margin of the channels. The angler is 
seated in the bow with a very long cane rod, to 
which is affixed a short line of a few feet, not to 
exceed six. As the boat advances, the angler 
dances the bob as far ahead as possible. It is 
held a few inches or a foot above the water, into 
which it is " bobbed " at short intervals. Some- 
times the bass leaps from the water to seize it. 
When hooked, the fish is landed without any cere- 
mony and as soon as possible, keeping it mean- 
while on the surface, to prevent its taking to the 



The Sunfisb Family 39 

weeds. Bartram described bobbing as practised 
in Florida, for black-bass, nearly a century and a 
half ago. 

Although bass fishing dates back to the middle 
of the eighteenth century, when bobbing, skitter- 
ing, and still-fishing were common methods in the 
extreme Southern states for the large-mouth bass, 
and though the dawn of the nineteenth century 
saw bait-fishing and fly-fishing for the small- 
mouth bass in Kentucky, it is surprising how little 
was known in the Northern and Eastern states 
about the black-bass and bass fishing a century 
after Bartram described bobbing for that game- 
fish in the narrative of his travels. Even so late 
as 187 1, when the Forest and Stream was estab- 
lished, very little appeared in its pages anent bass 
fishing. Indeed, a few years later, a discussion 
lasting a year or more appeared in its columns 
from week to week, as to whether the black-bass 
would rise to the fly. Previous to the publication 
of the writer's " Book of the Black-bass " in 1881, 
no work on angling gave any but the most mea- 
gre account of black-bass or bass fishing. The 
"American Angler's Guide," published in 1849 
by John J. Brown, states that the black-bass has 
rows of small teeth, two dorsal fins, and a swallow- 



40 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

tail. In the same work the large-mouth bass of 
the Southern states is classified under the head 
of " brook trout," the author being misled appar- 
ently by its Southern name of " trout," and goes 
on to say that they "grow much larger than 
Northern trout," and that they "are fished for 
with the same arrangement of tackle as the 
striped bass or salmon." A contributor to the 
work, however, from Buffalo, New York, treats 
briefly and vaguely of still-fishing with minnows 
and crawfish. Brief notes also from Southern and 
Western anglers give fair descriptions of the ap- 
pearance and habits of both species of black-bass. 
Frank Forester (Henry W. Herbert) knew no 
more of the black-bass than Mr. Brown, and 
acknowledges that he never caught one. That 
old Nestor of angling, Uncle Thad Norris, in his 
"American Angler's Book," 1864, gives the de- 
scriptions of Louis Agassiz and Dr. Holbrook 
for the black-bass, and then relates his only ex- 
perience as follows, " I have taken this bass in 
the vicinity of St. Louis, on a moonshiny night, 
by skittering a light spoon over the surface of the 
water, while standing on the shore." Genio C. 
Scott in his " Fishing in American Waters," 
1869, has less to say, and evidently knew less of 



The Stmfish Family 41 

the black-bass than any of the earlier writers. 
He gives just three lines concerning black-bass 
fishing, saying, "This fish is taken by casting 
the artificial fly, or by trolling with the feathered 
spoon, with a minnow impaled on a gang of hooks, 
and forming spinning tackle." Of all the angling 
authors prior to 1870, Robert B. Roosevelt is the 
only one who knew anything about black-bass or 
black-bass fishmg, having fished for it in the 
St. Lawrence basin. He says, " They will take 
minnows, shiners, grasshoppers, frogs, worms, or 
almost anything else that can be called a bait." 
Also, " They may be captured by casting the fly 
as for salmon or trout, and this is by far the most 
sportsmanlike way, but the most destructive and 
usually resorted to is trolling." The only per- 
sonal experience he gives of black-bass fishing, 
unfortunately, is by trolling with large flies. In 
his "Game Fish of the North," 1862, he devotes 
five pages to the black-bass, but apparently does 
not discriminate between the two species. In 
"Superior Fishing," 1865, he devotes two pages 
to the black-bass of Canada and the Great Lakes, 
in a general way, but gives two instances of fishing 
as follows, " Pedro soon hooked a splendid black- 
bass, and landed him after a vigorous struggle 



42 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

of half an hour; he weighed three pounds and 
three-quarters, and was thoroughly game." And 
again, " That evening was again devoted to the 
black-bass, which took both the fly and spoon 
greedily." 

During the period covered by the authors 
named, from 1849 to 1869, the anglers of the 
South and Middle West were using light cane 
rods, Kentucky reels, and the smallest sea-grass 
lines for bait-fishing, and trout fly-rods and trout- 
tackle for fly-fishing, rods and tackle as light, to 
say the least, as those in use to-day. 

In 1866 I removed to Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 
where there were thirty lakes within ten miles 
abounding in black-bass of both species, with 
pike, rock-bass, crappies, perch, etc. On my 
home grounds was a large shallow pond fed 
from Fowler Lake. Becoming much interested 
in the black-bass, and finding but little informa- 
tion available in the books of that day concerning 
their habits, I determined to give some study 
to the subject. Accordingly I cut a ditch from 
the pond to the lake, with suitable screens, and 
stocked it with black-bass of both species. Dur- 
ing their spawning period in the summer I 
watched them faithfully and constantly from a 



The Sunfish Family 43 

blind of bushes on the bank. This I did for 
several years, turning the adult bass into the 
lake when the fry were large enough to look out 
for themselves, and turning the fry out also in the 
fall. 

I extended my observations of the bass during 
their breeding season to the many lakes near by. 
I found a difference of several weeks in the time 
of their spawning in these lakes, owing to the 
difference in temperature, caused by their vary- 
ing depth. The appearance of the bass also dif- 
fered slightly in the various lakes, so that it was 
possible, from a close study of their variations in 
color, size, and contour, to determine in what par- 
ticular lake any string of bass was taken. 

About the same time, from 1868 to 1870, Mr. 
Cyrus Mann and Mr. H. D. Dousman established 
their trout hatchery and ponds not far from Oco- 
nomowoc, and Colonel George Shears, of Beaver 
Lake, a few miles away, also began hatching trout 
on a smaller scale. These establishments pre- 
sented an opportunity to study the artificial propa- 
gation of brook-trout, and I soon became familiar 
with the modus operandi. This was before the 
institution of the United States Fish Commission, 
though the state of Wisconsin already had an able 



44 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

and efficient Fish Commission, Mr. H. D. Dous- 
man being one of the commissioners. Colonel 
Shears also experimented with black-bass culture, 
and between us we reared many thousands to 
the asje of three months, before turnins: them 
out. Near my pond was a shallow, marshy cove 
to which the pike resorted in early spring to 
spawn, giving me an opportunity to study their 
breeding habits, also. There being so many lakes 
and ponds in the vicinity, and their being so well 
supplied with fishes of various kinds, my oppor- 
tunities for the observation of fish life were as 
great as fortunate. 

The differences of opinion among anglers, of 
all men, pertaining to the practice of their art, has 
become axiomatic. Some will differ even to the 
estimation of a hair in the legs of an artificial fly, 
while it is averred others will go so far as to 
"divide a hair 'twixt south and southwest side," 
as Butler has it. But, seriously, there are several 
moot points which I have endeavored to discuss 
in the following piscatorial polemic. 

Two friends went fishing. Both were famous 
black-bass anglers, with the enthusiasm born of a 
genuine love and an inherent appreciation of the 
gentle art so common among Kentucky gentle- 



The Sunfish Family 45 

men. One was a fly-fisher, the other a bait-fisher. 
Each was a devotee to his especial mode of ang- 
Hng, though generously tolerant of the other's 
method. They had fished together for years 
when the dogwood and redbud blossomed in 
the spring, and when the autumnal tints clothed 
the hillsides with scarlet and gold. 

They differed in their methods of fishing from 
choice, or from some peculiar, personal idiosyn- 
crasy, for each was an adept with both bait and 
fly. But this difference in their piscatorial prac- 
tices, like the diversity of nature, produced per- 
fect harmony instead of discord. Each extolled 
the advantages and sportsmanship of his own 
method, but always in a brotherly and kindly 
manner; never dictatorial or opinionated in ar- 
gument, or vainglorious and boastful as to his 
skill, for both were possessed of the generous 
impulses of gentlemen and the kindly influences 
of the gentle art. Moreover, they were innately 
conscious of a common aim, and differed only as 
to the ways and means of best attaining that end, 
which, while dissimilar, were not inharmonious. 

And so the Silver Doctor and the Golden 
Shiner, as they dubbed each other, went trudging 
along the bank of the merry stream together. 



46 Bass, Piki\ and Prnb 

The Doctor, lightly cciuii^potl with only rod, tly- 
book, and creel, sometimes relieved the Shiner 
by toting his minnow bucket or miniunv net. 
They were fishino a rocky, gently flowing river, 
cliaracteristic of the Blue Grass section. 

They stop[>etl at a broad, lakelike exj^ansion 
of the stream, caustxl by a mill-dam, and, in a 
quiet cove at the entrance of a clear brook, 
Golden Shiner proceeded to fill his minnow 
bucket with li\(.l\' minnows, using for the i)ur- 
pose an umbrella-like folding net. This he 
attached to a long, stcnit pole, and, after baiting 
it with crushed biscuit, Knvered it into the water. 
In a short time he iiad all the bait necessary — 
chubs, shiners, and steelbacks. 

" The golden shiner is the best of all," said he, 
" especially for roily or milky water; but the chub 
and steelback are stronger and livelier on the 
hook, and for very clear water are good enough." 

They then proceeded below the mill-dam, 
where there was a strong rifitle, with likely-looking 
pools and eddies. 

" The proper way to hook a minnow is through 
the lips," continued Golden Shiner, " esj)ecially 
for casting. One can give a more natural mt)- 
tion to the minnow on drawimr it through the 



The Sunfish Family 47 

water. For still-fishing, hooking through the 
tail or under the back fin will answer; but even 
then I prefer my method, unless the minnow is 
less than tw(j inches in length." And he made a 
long cast toward the eddy of a large boulder. 

" For the same reason," acquiesced Silver Doc- 
tor, "artificial flies are tied with the head next the 
snell," — industriously casting to right and left 
over the riffle. 

" Hut some flies are tied with the tail next to 
the snell," ventured Shiner. 

"That is true, but it is unnatural. I never 
saw an insect swim tail first up-stream. Nature 
is the best teacher, and one should endeavor to 
follow her lead." Just then the Doctor snapped 
off his point fly. Upon examination he found 
that the snell was dry and brittle next to the 
head of the fly, though he had previously soaked 
it well in a glass of water. He discovered that a 
drop of shellac varnish had encroached beyond 
the head of the fly for perhaps the sixteenth of 
an inch on the snell. This portion, being water- 
proof, remained dry and brittle — a very common 
fault with cheap flies. 

"This fly," said the Doctor, " was given to me 
for trial by Judge Hackle. He tied it himself. 



48 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

The broken end of the snell still shows a portion 
of shellac coating." 

" I never thought of that before," remarked 
Shiner. " No doubt many flies are cracked off 
from the same cause." 

" Without a doubt, as you say. I know a lady," 
continued the Doctor, " who, as Walton says, 
'has a fine hand,' and who superintends an ex- 
tensive artificial fly establishment — and who has 
written the best book ever published on the sub- 
ject of artificial flies — who personally inspects 
every fly turned out by her tyers. And, more- 
over, she varnishes the head of every fly herself, 
in order that not the least particle of shellac may 
touch the snell. Such careful supervision and 
honest work, to quote Walton again, ' like virtue, 
bring their own reward,' " and the Doctor resumed 
his casting with another fly. 

" Well, Doctor, I sympathize with you ; but 
my snells are clear-quill and no varnish. I may 
throw off a minnow once in a while by a very long 
cast, but it is soon replaced, and costs nothing. 
And, speaking of casting, I observed that you 
made half a dozen casts to reach yonder rock but 
sixty feet away, while I placed my minnow, by 
a single cast, a hundred feet in the other direc- 



The Stmfish Family 49 

tion. Moreover, I reel my line toward me 
through undisturbed water, while you whipped 
the entire distance by several preliminary casts." 

" That is necessarily true," answered the Doc- 
tor ; " but while you must recover all of your line 
for a new cast, I can cast repeatedly with the 
extreme length of my line in any direction ; so I 
think honors are easy on the question of casting." 

" But," persisted Shiner, " with my quadruple 
multiplying reel, it is only a matter of a few 
seconds to prepare for a new cast. Then again, 
I have better control of a hooked fish, and can 
give and take line much faster than you with your 
single-action click reel." 

" While I grant your reel has a great advantage 
in speed, I hold that a single-action click reel is 
all-sufficient to play and land a hooked fish. Your 
reel is intended particularly to make long initial 
casts, and it is admirably adapted for that especial 
purpose ; but in playing a bass it has no advan- 
tage over a click reel ; in fact, I prefer the latter 
for that purpose. Really, the engine of destruc- 
tion to the hooked fish is the rod. Its constant 
strain and yielding resistance, even without a reel 
of any kind, will soon place him hors de combat^ 

Golden Shiner was not slow to perceive the 



50 Bass, Pike, ami Perch 

force of the Doctor's arguments and held his 
peace. In the meantime both anglers had suc- 
ceeded in killing some half-dozen bass, the larg- 
est ones falling to the rod of the bait fisher, as 
is usually the case. The sun was now climbing 
toward the zenith, and the Doctor's flies seemed 
to have lost their attractiveness for the wary bass, 
while the Shiner, seeking deeper water, was still 
successful in his efforts. The day, however, was 
becoming uncomfortably warm. 

" You will admit, Doctor, that you must cast 
your flies early in the day or late in the afternoon 
to insure much success, while I can fish during 
the middle of the day in deeper water and still 
have a measure of reward, which I consider quite 
an advantage of bait over fly." 

"Granted. Fish rise to the fly only in com- 
paratively shallow water, and are found in such 
situations in bright weather only early and late 
in the day. But I prefer to fish at just those 
times. I do not care to fish during the middle 
portion of the day in summer." And the Doctor 
proceeded to reel in his final cast. 

Just then his friend hooked the largest fish of 
the morning's outing. It was an unusually gamy 
bass, and leaped several times in rapid succession 



The Sunfish Family 51 

from the water, shaking itself violently each time. 
But the Shiner was equal to " his tricks and his 
manners," and soon had him in the landing-net. 

" Doctor, why does a hooked bass break water 
and shake his head ? Is it through fear or rage ? " 

" It is to rid his jaws of the hook. He can 
neither pick his teeth with a fin, nor remove a 
foreign substance from his mouth with his tail. 
His mouth is his prehensile organ. A horse, cow, 
dog, or fowl will shake the head violently to rid 
its mouth of an offending object. But a fish, 
having no neck to speak of, can only shake his 
head by shaking his body, and that only in a 
lateral direction. As a bass cannot shake him- 
self energetically enough beneath the water to 
dislodge the hook, owing to the resistance of the 
denser medium, he naturally leaps into the air 
for that purpose; and he always does so with 
widely extended jaws, as you have seen time and 
again this morning. He probably also fortifies 
himself at the same time by taking in oxygen 
from the air. He does so, at all events, willy- 
nilly." 

" How high can a black-bass leap from the 
water, do you think?" 

" A foot or two at most, as you well know," 



52 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

replied the Doctor. " In rocky streams like this, 
one has a good gauge for measuring the leap. I 
never saw a bass leap as high as yonder boulder, 
which is about three feet above the water; and as 
you have taken several fish in its eddy, you might 
have ])roved it by your own observation, as I did 
myself." 

" I distinctly remember, now," affirmed Shiner, 
"that my last catch — the big fellow — leaped 
several times very near that same rock, and he 
did not go half as high." 

The two friends then repaired to a cool spring 
beneath a spreading beech, to enjoy a luncheon 
and a quiet pipe, — well satisfied with their morn- 
ing's sport, — and to continue the argunicntiim 
ad hominem anent fly and bait, with the usual 
result that 

" A man convinced against his will, 
Is of the same opinion still." 

THE ROCK-BASS 

{^Amhloplitcs iiipcstris) 

In the same family with the black-bass are a 
number of other sunfishes that will next be con- 
sidered, merely as a matter of sequence, and not 
on account of their importance as game-fishes. 



The Stmfisb Family 53 

The rock-bass was first described by the F"rench 
naturalist, Rafinesque, in 1817, while travelling in 
America. His specimens were from New York 
and Vermont, which he named rupcstris, " living 
among rocks." In the Northern states it is gener- 
ally known as the rock-bass, but in Kentucky 
and other states of the Middle West it is called 
red-eye, goggle-eye, etc. 

Its original liabitat was from Canada and Lake 
Champlain southward along the MississipjH Valley 
to Louisiana and Texas, but its range has been 
extended to many other states east and west by 
transi)lantation. 

In its general apj)earance it resembles some- 
what the black-bass, but it is a dee|)er fish and is 
more compressed. Its dorsal and anal fins are 
comparatively larger and stronger. It lias a large 
eye and a capacious mouth well filled with small 
teeth, some on the roof of the mouth being rather 
sharp. 

The color is of various shades of oHve-green, 
with brassy or coppery reflection, more or less 
mottled with black, forming broken and indistinct 
lines along the sides. The iris of the eye is 
scarlet, hence " red-eye " ; there is a black spot on 
the angle of the gill-cover and dark mottlings on 



54 Biiss. Pike, and Pcrcb 

the soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. It prefers 
clear streams and lakes, and congregates in small 
schools about rocky situations, gravelly bars, about 
mill-dams, and in the vicinity of weed patches 
in ponds. It spawns in the spring and early sum- 
mer, making and guarding its nest like the black- 
bass, and feeds on crawfish, small minnows, and 
insect larva?. In size it usually runs from a half- 
pound to a pound in streams, though reaching 
two pounds or more in lakes. It is a good pan- 
fish for the table, and is well thought of in the 
Mississippi Valley, though held in lighter esteem 
in the St. Lawrence basin, where it coexists with 
larger and better fishes. 

The rock-bass is an attractive-looking fish, and 
for its size is very pugnacious. It will take the 
artificial fly, or natural or artificial bait. It bites 
freely at small minnows, grubs, grasshoppers, cut- 
bait, or angle-worms. It is capable of affording 
considerable sport with light tackle, owing to its 
large and strong fins, and its habit of curling its 
sides in opposition to the strain of the rod. 

With a light fly-rod of four or five ounces, and 
corresponding tackle, and trout flies on hooks 
Nos. 5 to 7, the rock-bass is not a mean adver- 
sary. It rises to the various hackles, and to such 



The Sunfisb Family 55 

flies as coachman, brown drake, gray drake, and 
stone fly, especially toward evening. The flies 
must be allowed to sink with every cast after 
fluttering them awhile on the surface. For bait- 
fishing a trout bait-rod of the weight just men- 
tioned, with a reel of small caliber and the smallest 
braided silk line, will be about right. Sproat 
hooks Nos. 3 to 4 on light gut snells tied with 
red silk are the best. Live minnows about two 
inches long, carefully hooked through the lips, 
are to be lightly cast and allowed to sink nearly 
to the bottom and slowly reeled in again. Or if 
a float is used, the minnow may be hooked just 
under the dorsal fin. A small float is necessary 
when white grubs, crawfish, cut-bait, or worms 
are used as bait. On lakes it is readily taken by 
trolling with a very small spoon, about the size 
of a nickel, with a single Sproat or O'Shaughnessy 
hook No. I attached. 

A rod nine or ten feet long cut from the small 
end of a native cane pole, weighing but a few 
ounces, with a line of sea-grass or raw silk about 
the length of the rod, will answer very well for 
bait-fishing. This is the tackle mostly used by 
boys in the Middle West, and it might be profit- 
ably employed by boys of larger growth. 



56 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

A dozen "red-eyes," gleaming with green and 
gold, on the string of the boy angler, is something 
to be proud of. He gazes with fond admiration 
on the wide-open crimson eyes, which to him 
seem more precious than rubies. He admires the 
bristling fins, the gracefully sloping sides, the 
gaping mouth and forked tail, with boyish enthu- 
siasm and appreciation. Although hot and tired, 
and with many a scratch and bruise on hands 
and feet, such trifles are lighter than air, and do 
not admit of a moment's consideration. Seated 
on a rock at the margin of the stream, with the 
string of fish in the water, he feasts his eyes on 
the finny beauties with the conscious pride of 
well-earned success and the happy culmination 
of his outing. In imagination the battles are all 
fought over and over again. He knows just 
where and under what condition and circum- 
stance each fish was caught, as, with bare toes, 
he separates and indicates the individual on the 
string. That largest one was hooked under the 
dam beside the big rock. The next in size was 
taken among the roots of the old sycamore at 
the bend of the creek. Another and still another 
from the deep hole under the rocky cliff. Oh, the 
joyous days of youth and going a-fishing in the 



The Sunfisb Family 57 

glad springtime of life ! And then, having laved 
his swollen feet in the cooling stream, he washes 
the blood and scales from his hands, scrapes the 
mud and slime from his well-worn clothes, shoul- 
ders his lance of elm, and starts for home, bearing 
his trophies with as proud a mien as a warrior of 
old returning with the spoils of war. 

THE SACRAMENTO PERCH 

(^Archoplites interrupt us) 

The Sacramento perch is closely allied in struc- 
ture to the rock-bass, and is the only perchlike 
fish in fresh water west of the Rocky Mountains. 
It was collected by the Pacific Railroad Survey and 
described and named interruptus by Girard, in 
1854, owing to the interrupted character of the 
vertical markings. It inhabits the Sacramento 
and Joaquin rivers in California, and is much 
esteemed as a food-fish, but unfortunately it is 
being rapidly exterminated by the carp and cat- 
fish that arc said to infest its spawning grounds. 
In its conformation it is almost identical with the 
rock-bass, but differs in having more teeth on 
the tongue and more gill-rakers. In coloration, 
however, it differs very much, being sometimes 
uniformly blackish or brassy, but usually the 



58 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

black coloration is disposed in several vertical 
bars or markings of an irregular shape. It has 
a black spot on the angle of the gill-cover. 

I have had no experience in angling for the 
Sacramento perch, which is said to be taken with 
the hook in large quantities for the market. I 
have no doubt but the tackle recommended for 
the rock-bass would be just as effective for this 
fish, with similar baits. 

THE WARMOUTH PERCH 

{Chcenobryttus gjtlosus) 

The warmouth perch, also known as the black 
sunfish in the North, was first described by the 
French naturalists, Cuvier and Valenciennes, in 
1829, from specimens from Lake Pontchartrain, 
Louisiana. They named it gulosus, " large- 
mouthed," owing to its big mouth. There is a 
slight variation between the Northern and South- 
ern forms. It abounds in all coastwise streams 
from North Carolina to Florida and Texas, and 
sparingly in Lake Michigan and the upper Mis- 
sissippi Valley. In its general shape and appear- 
ance it is not unlike the rock-bass, though in the 
radial formula of its fins and in its large mouth 
it approaches nearer the black-bass than any 



The Sunfisb Family 59 

other species of the family. It has a large head 
and deep body, almost as deep as long, and is 
nearly symmetrical in outline. Its teeth are in 
brushlike bands on the jaws, with patches on the 
tongue. The Southern form has one or two less 
soft rays in the dorsal and anal fins. 

It is dark olive on the back, lighter on the 
sides, with blotches of blue and coppery red, and 
the belly brassy or yellowish. Iris red, ear-flap 
black, bordered with pale red, with three dusky 
red bars radiating from the eye across the cheeks. 
Fins mottled with a darker color, and a black 
blotch on the last rays of the soft portion of the 
dorsal fin. 

It is not so gregarious as the rock-bass, but 
otherwise is similar in its habits, though not so 
partial to rocky situations, rather loving deep 
pools and quiet water. It feeds on minnows, 
tadpoles, frogs, insects, and their larvae. It 
spawns in the spring. It is a good pan-fish, and 
grows to eight or ten inches in length and a 
weight of nearly a pound. For its size, it is the 
gamest member of the family except the black- 
bass, and is more like that fish than the others. 
It is a favorite game-fish in the South, rising well 
to the fly, and is a free biter at natural bait. 



6o Bass, Pike, and Percb 

In angling for the warmouth, the same rods 
and tackle mentioned under the head of rock- 
bass are well suited. In the Southern states a 
light native cane rod, ten or twelve feet long, and 
a line of the smallest caliber, sea-grass or twisted 
silk, is the favorite style of tackle, with hooks 
Nos. 2 to 3 tied on light gut, and a quill float 
and split-shot sinker. The usual bait is the 
black cricket, or the catalpa worm or caterpillar. 
The white grub found in decayed stumps, and 
other larvae, crawfish and small minnows, are all 
useful. Of these the minnow is the best. On 
streams a small float is necessary to keep the 
bait from the roots of overhanging trees. In 
the stillness of Southern streams, under the moss- 
draped trees, I have idled away many a dreamy 
hour in the pleasure of fishing for the warmouth, 
but at the same time fully alive to the weird sur- 
roundings. Occasionally the splashing of a 
hooked fish on the surface entices an alligator 
from his lair in expectation of a fishy morsel. 
The echoes are awakened time and again by the 
pumping of the bittern, the hoarse cry of the 
crarue, or the hooting of an owl in the dark re- 
cesses of the cypress swamp. The solitudes of 
those waters are very fascinating to the lone 



The Sunfisb Family 6i 

fisher. The novelty of the situation appeals very 
strongly to the angler-naturalist whose experi- 
ences have been on the clear, sparkling, tumbling 
streams of the North. There Nature is ever 
bright and joyous ; here she is quiet and sombre 
and subdued. But the fishes know no north or 
south or east or west, — always the same crea- 
tures of interest and beauty, and ever responding 
to the wiles of the angler. 

I was once fishing on St. Francis River, in 
Arkansas, where the warmouths were both large 
and gamy. One day I went through the woods 
and cane-brakes to the banks of Mud Lake, situ- 
ated in the midst of a cypress swamp. The lake 
was much smaller than it had been formerly, as 
was apparent from the wide margins of the 
shores, which were of considerable extent be- 
tween the timber and the water. On this mar- 
gin was a group of four cypress trees that in size 
exceeded any that I had ever seen, and I think 
worthy of mention. They were from twenty to 
twenty-five feet in diameter, or sixty to sixty- 
five feet in circumference, three feet above the 
ground. They were buttressed like the wall of 
a mediaeval stronghold. In comparing notes with 
many naturalists and travellers, they have de- 



62 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

clared the size of those cypress trees to be both 
unique and wonderful. 

THE BLUE SUNFISH 

(Lepowi's pallidiis) 

The blue sunfish was first described by Dr. 
Mitchill from the waters of New York in 1815. 
He named \i pallidus, meaning "pale," as it was 
more sober in hue than the other brilliantly 
colored sunfishes. It is the largest of the sun- 
fishes, so-called, as the black-bass, warmouth, 
and crappies are not popularly regarded as 
" sunfishes." 

The blue sunfish has a wider distribution than 
any other member of its family except the black- 
bass. Its range extends from the Great Lakes 
through the Mississippi Valley to Texas, and 
along the South Atlantic states to Florida. In 
the Middle West it is known as blue gill and in 
the South as blue bream and copper-nosed bream. 
It has a medium-sized head and very deep body, 
its depth varying from one-half its length to almost 
as deep as long, in which case, barring head and 
tail, it is almost round in outline. It is much 
compressed. The ear-flap is quite black, without 
the pale or red border usual in the other sunfishes. 




THE SMALL-MOUTH BLACK-BASS 

Micropterus dolomieu 




THE LARGE-MOUTH BLACK-BASS 
Micropterus salmoides 




THE ROCK-BASS 

AmblopUtes rupestris 



The Sunfisb Family 63 

As might be inferred from its extensive range, 
its coloration varies greatly. In large and old 
examples it is sometimes of a uniform slaty hue 
with j)urj)lish reflections. In others it is olive- 
green or bluish green, darker above, with the 
breast and belly coj)pery red. Young specimens 
arc more brilliantly colored, with silvery reflec- 
tions and various chainlike markings. It thrives 
alike in stream, pond, or lake, adaj)ting itself to 
almost any environment. It feeds on insects 
and their larvic, very small minnows, and other 
small aquatic organisms. It spawns in the 
spring and early summer, and its manner of 
nesting and guarding its young is similar to 
that of the other members of the family. It 
grows to six or eight inches in length usually, 
but often to a foot, especially in large waters, 
it is quite a favorite game-fish in most localities, 
and with such tackle as recommended for the 
rock-bass it gives considerable sport, especially 
in localities that are lacking in larger and better 
game-fishes. It rises well to the fly, and will take 
any of the baits recommended for the other sun- 
fishes. 

In those states of the Middle West, where the 
brook-trout does not exist, the "blue gill " is 



64 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

greatly esteemed and much sought after, as it 
furnishes the opportunity to employ light trout 
tackle in its capture, and with such gear it 
affords fine sport. I have taken the blue sun- 
fish in all waters from Wisconsin to Florida. 
In the latter state many years ago I fished a 
fresh-water lake on Point Pinellas, near St. 
Petersburg, Florida, though there were but two 
houses there at that time. I was using a very 
light rod, and the fish were as large and round 
as a breakfast plate, and moreover the gamcst 
and most beautiful in coloration of any blue gill 
I had ever met. The characteristic blue was 
replaced by a deep, intense, and brilliant purple, 
shot with silvery and golden reflections. While 
playing one on the surface, an osprey sat on a 
dead pine watching with apparent concern and 
eagerness. The fish made a stubborn resistance, 
with much splashing. Then a strange thing 
happened. The fish-hawk swooped down and 
seized the fish and attempted to fly away with 
it. Perhaps the hook became fast to his claw, 
but at any rate he circled around and around 
the pond, tethered to my line. It was the first, 
last, and only time that I did the aerial act of 
playing a bird on the wing. After a few seconds 



The Sunfisb Family 65 

of this exciting and novel sport the osprey broke 
away, carrying both fish and hook. 

THE LONG-EARED SUNFISH 

(^Lepomis wegalotis) 

This Species was first described by Rafinesque 
in 1820 from streams in Kentucky. He named 
it vtcgalotis, meaning " large ear," owing to its 
large and conspicuous ear-flap. It is one of the 
handsomest sunfishes in its brilliant coloration, 
and a great favorite with the youthful Waltonians 
of the Mississippi Valley. It inhabits small 
streams in Michigan and the Mississippi Valley, 
and the Atlantic slope from South Carolina to 
Florida and Mexico, and is very abundant in Ken- 
tucky, where it is sometimes called " tobacco- 
box," owing to its " lid-like " opercle. 

Its body is short and deep, with quite a hump 
or arch anteriorly, making the profile of the face 
quite steep in old specimens. The ear-flap is 
very long and wide, blackish in color, with a 
border usually of pale bluish or a reddish hue ; 
its back is blue, with chestnut or orange belly ; 
sides with red spots and bluish lines ; iris of eye 
red; lips blue. The soft rays of the dorsal fin 
are blue, with orange between. Ventral and 

F 



66 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

anal fins are dusky blue. The top of the head 
and nape is dark. The coloration is very brilliant 
and varies in different localities. Its habits of 
feeding and spawning are similar to those of 
the blue sunfish, though it usually inhabits smaller 
streams ; it grows to a length of from six to eight 
inches, and is regarded as a good pan-fish by 
many. 

It is an eager biter at angle-worms, which is 
the bait par excellejicc of juvenile anglers, who 
greatly enjoy fishing for " sunnies." The only 
tackle needed is a light cane rod very fine line, 
and small hooks, Nos. 6 or 8, split-shot sinker, 
and, of course, a float, for no boy would care 
to fish without a " bob " or " cork." Half of the 
pleasure of the young angler is in watching 
the float. 

But the fly-fisher may also obtain sport to his 
liking with a rod of a few ounces' weight and 
midge flies on No. lo hooks, for at the close of 
the day the long-eared sunfish rises well. In 
the absence of better fishing this is not to be 
despised. 

I once saw a boy fishing for " tobacco-boxes " 
from a rock beneath a mill-dam on a Kentucky 
stream. He hooked one of good size, and in 



The Sunfisb Family 67 

his eagerness to secure it tumbled into the pool, 
which was quite deep, much over his head. 
After some little delay we got him out, almost 
drowned, and in a very limp and exhausted con- 
dition. When finally he was restored and capable 
of speech he exclaimed, " I saved my tobacco- 
box, anyhow ! " During all the struggle he held 
on to his rod, and still clutched it when " landed." 
Whether he did so from the desperation with 
which drowning men are said to cling to straws, 
or from an inherent sporting instinct, deponent 
sayeth not. A clergyman, who knew nothing 
of fish, but who was attracted to the scene, said 
to the dripping boy, " My lad, let this be a 
solemn warning to you : throw away the tobacco- 
box you have saved and give up chewing; it 
may drown you yet." 

THE RED-BREAST SUNFISH 

(^Lepomis aiiritus) 

This handsome sunfish was the first of its 
family to receive the recognition of a naturalist, 
being described by Linnaeus in 1758. He named 
it aiiritus, or " eared," from its conspicuous ear- 
flap. His specimen was credited to Philadelphia, 
and was, presumably, from some ncighboriiif'. 



68 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

water. It is a fish of the Atlantic slope, with a 
range extending from Maine to Florida, and is 
also found in Louisiana. It is very abundant in 
the South Atlantic states. 

Its form is similar to the long-eared sunfish, 
but with a more prominent snout and a depres- 
sion in front of the eye. Its ear-flap is as long 
but not so broad; its color olive or bluish above; 
sides bluish with reddish spots ; breast and belly 
orange or red; blue stripes on the front of the 
head. The southern form has a dusky blotch on 
the last rays of the dorsal fin, which is lacking in 
those of northern waters. 

Its habits are similar to those of the other sun- 
fishes proper, as to food, spawning, etc. It grows 
to a length of from eight to ten inches. It is a 
favorite food- and game-fish in the South, where 
it is known as red-breast bream and red-bellied 
perch. The same remarks as to angling men- 
tioned under the head of warmouth perch will 
apply to this fish as well. 

My angling career really began with the cap- 
ture of " silversides " with a paste of bread crumbs, 
but was inaugurated with taking this "sunny" 
and the " punkin-seed " on the artificial fly. An 
old English gamekeeper, in the employ of our 



The Sunfisb Family 69 

family as gardener and hostler, taught me to tie 
a fly and cast it with a willow wand when but 
five years of age. At the feet of that Gamaliel 
in corduroy I imbibed a love of angling that has 
constantly grown with the lapse of years. But 
increased knowledge of fishes and a wider experi- 
ence in angling have not lessened my affection 
for my first love — the "sunny." This acknowledg- 
ment is due one of the humblest and least im- 
portant, but also one of the prettiest species of 
the finny tribe. 

THE COMMON SUNFISH 

{Eupomotis gibbosus) 

This is the pumpkin-seed or "sunny" of fra- 
grant memory. It is enshrined in the heart of 
many an American angler as his first love, when 
with pin hook, thread line, and willow wand he 
essayed its capture in the nearest brook or mill- 
pond. 

Looking backward over an angling career of 
half a century, the gamesome "sunny" with its 
coat of many colors shines out as a bright par- 
ticular star among those of greater magnitude. 
It is here set down, then, mainly as a matter of 
sentiment and to keep its memory green. 



yo Bass, Pike, and Percb 

The little " sunny " was christened by the 
greatest naturalist that ever lived, Linnaeus, who 
in 1758 named it '' gibbosus^' owing to the gib- 
bous outline of its little body. His specimens 
were from South Carolina. 

It inhabits the Great Lake region, and the 
Atlantic seaboard from Maine to Florida, and 
the northern portion of the Mississippi Valley. 
In outline it is not unlike a pumpkin-seed, hence 
one of its popular names. This is well expressed 
in its specific name gibbosus. It has quite a 
small mouth, but large eye. In coloration it 
rivals the gayly-tinted fishes of the coral reefs 
in tropical seas. The predominating colors are 
yellow and blue, being bluish on the back, paling 
on the sides to a lighter shade, with yellow 
blotches and coppery reflections, and belly bright 
orange-yellow; the cheeks are yellow with blue 
streaks; rays of dorsal fin blue, the connecting 
membrane yellow ; ear-flap black, ending in a 
scarlet border; lips blue; iris of eye scarlet. 

Its habits of spawning, nest-making, and care of 
eggs and fry are similar to those of the other sun- 
fishes mentioned. It is partial to clear water, with 
sandy or gravelly bottom, in the vicinity of weed 
patches. It feeds on insects and their larvae and 



The Sunflsb Family 71 

minute crustaceans, and is especially fond of the 
eggs and fry of other species. It grows to a size 
of eight inches, though usually from three to six 
inches. 

Like all the sunfishes, it is an eager biter, and 
with very light tackle much real pleasure can be 
enjoyed by the angler who is not too particular 
as to his preferences. It rises readily to small 
dark flies, as the several hackles, black gnat, etc., 
on hooks Nos. 10 to 12. For bait-fishing 
nothing is quite so good as earthworms on 
hooks Nos. 8 to 10. 

There are quite a number of other sunfishes 
belonging to this family, but those named are 
the most important. In the Southern states, 
where the sunfishes are known generically as 
" bream " or " brim " and " perch," they are more 
appreciated than in the Northern states, where 
the brook-trout is the favorite among the smaller 
species. If fished for with very light and suitable 
tackle, there is a great measure of enjoyment to 
be derived from bream-fishing, north or south. 
Certainly for beauty of coloration they are not 
excelled, and as pan-fish they are preferred by 
many to the dainty brook-trout. 

There is a certain fascination in fishing with 



72 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

a float, or " cork," or " bob," as the boys have it. 
And among us " old boys " there is a certain 
undefined feeling, it may be a reminiscent affec- 
tion, connected with the float, much the same as 
that with which we regard the powder-flask and 
shot-pouch of the days of yore. And I am not 
sure but that the old things and old ways were 
best, or at least more enjoyable. One can heartily 
agree with Alonzo of Aragon in his preferences 
for old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old 
friends to trust, and old authors to read. 

What old angler does not remember the eager- 
ness and expectancy with which he watched the 
" cork " in days gone by ? How well he knew and 
understood every motion of it, responsive to the 
nibbling " sunny " : first a gentle spinning, then 
a preliminary bobble, then a premonitory start 
away an inch or two, and then — O joy ! — its 
swift and sudden disappearance beneath the sur- 
face. The lapse of time cannot wither nor 
modern custom stale the pleasures of youthful 
fishing. To be sure, it was not all piscatorial 
cakes and ale ; there were a few thorns with the 
roses; there were the bruised fingers and toes, 
the wet and torn clothes, and the impending 
and dreaded " dressing down " when home was 



The Sunfisb Family 73 

reached ; but these disagreeable concomitants 
were soon forgotten, and are now scarcely re- 
membered, while the pleasures are laid up in the 
lavender of sweet recollection. 

The old-time zest of fishing with a float can 
still be gratified; we can renew our youth by 
fishing for "sunnies" in the old-fashioned way. 
In the wooded streams of the Southern states the 
float is a sine qua non for bream-fishing, owing 
to the many tangled roots of trees on the banks, 
and the mosses, grasses, and other aquatic plants 
that grow so luxuriantly in the sluggish waters. 
Then here's to the float and the sunny and the 
bream ! 

THE CALICO-BASS 

{Pomoxis sparoides) 

The calico-bass was first described by Lacepede 
from specimens sent to France from South Caro- 
lina. He named it sparoides from a fancied 
resemblance, either in its scales or compressed 
body, to those features in fishes belonging to the 
family Sparidcs. 

Owing to its wide distribution it has received 
many names, more or less descriptive. In the 
Northern states it is variously called crappie, 
croppie, strawberry-bass, grass-bass, bank lick 



74 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

bass, silver-bass, big-fin bass, Lake Erie bass, 
razor back, bitter-head, lamplighter, etc., while 
in the Southern states it is known as speckled 
perch, goggle-eyed perch, chincapin perch, bridge 
perch, etc. 

As the calico-bass and the next fish to be 
described, the crappie, belong to the same genus 
of the sunfish family, and resemble each other 
very much, the vernacular nomenclature is much 
confused, and in some instances is interchangeable. 
Some years ago I proposed to call them northern 
and southern crappie ; but as the name calico-bass 
has obtained considerable currency, it is best to 
adopt that name for the northern species, leaving 
the name crappie for the southern form. 

The calico-bass is found in the Great Lake 
region and the upper Mississippi Valley, and 
along the Atlantic slope from New Jersey to 
Florida and Texas. Its range has been con- 
siderably extended by transplantation, even to 
France, where it thrives well as a pond fish. It 
is a handsome fish, resembling in its general 
features and shape the sunfishes, but with a 
thinner body and larger fins. It has a long head 
and a large mouth, with thin lips and projecting 
lower jaw. The eye is large with a dark, bluish 



The Sunfisb Family 75 

iris. Its fins are large and strong. It grows 
usually to eight or ten inches in length, weighing 
from half a pound to a pound, but occasionally 
reaches a foot in length and two or three pounds 
in weight. Its color is bright olive-green, with 
silvery reflections, darker on the back, and paling 
to the belly. In some localities it is of a much 
darker and purplish hue with brassy lustre. It is 
profusely covered with dark spots or blotches, as 
large as the finger-tips or " chincapins." The 
fins are mottled with pale spots on a darker or 
olive ground. It is gregarious, being usually 
found in schools, and prefers clear water. It is 
especially adapted to pond culture, and spawns 
in spring or early summer, according to locality ; 
it prepares its nest in sand, gravel, or on a flat 
rock in the same way as the sunfishes. Its food 
is the same, also, though it is more partial to 
young fish. It is an excellent pan-fish but does 
not excel as a game-fish, for though a very free 
biter, it does not offer much resistance when 
hooked. However, with very light tackle it 
affords considerable sport, as it does not cease 
biting, usually, until most of the school are 
taken. 

The usual method of angling for this fish is 



76 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

from an anchored boat on ponds or small lakes, 
or from the bank. At times it rises pretty well 
to the fly, and trolling with a very small spoon is 
also successful on lakes. The lightest rods and 
tackle should be employed, with hooks Nos. 3 to 
5 on gut snells. A small quill float is useful in 
very weedy ponds with mossy bottom. The best 
bait is a small minnow, though grasshoppers, 
crickets, crawfish, cut-bait, or worms are all 
greedily taken. Fly-fishing is more successful 
during the late afternoon hours until dusk. The 
flies should be trout patterns of coachman, gray 
drake, black gnat, Henshall, or any of the hackles 
on hooks Nos. 4 to 5. 

I first became acquainted with the calico-bass 
during my residence in Wisconsin, many years 
ago. In the vicinity of Oconomowoc it was 
known as the silver-bass, though summer visitors 
from St. Louis, confusing it with the kindred 
species, the crappie, called it " croppie," as the 
real crappie is known at Murdoch Lake near 
that city. Owing to its greedy, free-biting habits 
it was a prime favorite with youthful anglers and 
the fair sex; for once a school was located, the 
contest was free, fast, and furious until, perhaps, 
the entire school was captured. It was frequently 



The Stmfisb Family yj 

taken by black-bass fishers when casting the 
minnow or trolling, much to their disgust. Of 
course it is always the unexpected that happens, 
in fishing as in other affairs of life, and the angler 
who was casting a fine minnow for a black-bass, 
viewed with disdain if not anger the unlucky 
"pickerel," rock-bass, perch, or calico bass that 
appropriated — or, as the English angler has it, 
"hypothecated" — the said choice shiner. 

I was once fishing with General Phil Sheridan 
and General Anson Stager for black-bass on a 
lake near Oconomowoc. When the great teleg- 
rapher, after a beautiful cast near" a bed of 
rushes, hooked a calico-bass, and was anathe- 
matizing the " measly silver-bass " with all the 
dots and dashes of the Morse alphabet, Sheridan 
quietly remarked, " Oh, let up, Stager, it is one 
of the fortunes of war; better luck next time!" 
Stager smiled, gently unhooked the offending 
fish, and returned it to the water, saying, " Good- 
by, croppie, my regards to the rest of the family ; 
but don't monkey with my minnow again." 

When cruising on the St. Johns, or camping 
on some of the fresh-water lakes of Florida, I 
have greatly enjoyed both the fishing with light 
tackle and the eating of this fine pan-fish. It is 



78 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

there known as the perch, silver perch, or speckled 
perch. It may not be out of place to say that 
the generic term " bass " is connected only with 
salt-water fishes in the Southern states. Fishes 
that are known in the Northern states as bass of 
some kind become, generically, " perch " in the 
South ; and the black-bass becomes a " trout " or 
jumping-perch. If bait-fishing, one is never at 
a loss for bait on the lakes of Florida. The black- 
bass and calico-bass lie in open water, adjacent to 
the patches of lily-pads or bonnets. Among the 
latter frequent the minnows and small fry. To 
catch your minnow the bait is also handy. In 
the stems of the lilies and bonnets there lies 
concealed a small worm, which is readily seen 
by splitting the stems. With the worm first 
catch your minnow, which is transferred to your 
bass hook, which is next cast into clear, deeper 
water, to be taken by a black-bass or "speckled 
perch." What a simple and admirable arrange- 
ment for the lazy fisherman ! 

My old friend. Dr. Thcodatus Garlick, who 
with I^r. M. A. Ackley were the fathers of fish- 
culture in America, having succeeded in hatch- 
ing brook-trout as early as 1853, relates the 
following instance of the remarkable tenacity of 



The Sunfish Family 79 

life in the calico-bass: "A specimen from which 
a drawing was made, was wrapped in a piece of 
paper when taken from the water, and carried in 
my coat pocket for over four hours, and when 
placed in a bucket of water soon revived, and 
seems at the present time to enjoy excellent 
health. In warm weather, however, it would not, 
in all probability, survive so severe a test of its 
vital powers." I imagine that this circumstance 
happened in winter, and that the fish became 
frozen before or after being placed in his pocket ; 
otherwise I doubt if the fish could have survived 
vSO long, unless the piece of paper was very large 
and very wet. I know of many instances occur- 
ring with myself and others where freshly caught 
fish have been revived after being frozen for 
several hours. 

THE CRAPPIE 

{Poinoxis atimdaris) 

The crappie was first described by Rafinesque 
in 18 18 from specimens collected at the Falls of 
the Ohio, near Louisville, Kentucky. He named 
it annularis, "having rings," as it was said to 
have " a golden ring at the base of the tail," 
but I have never seen it; it does have a gold 



So Bass, Pike, and Percb 

ring, however, around the iris of the eye, and this 
was probably the occasion of the name. 

Like the calico-bass, the crappie has received 
a great many local names. In the northern 
region of its range it is variously known as 
white croppie, crappie, barfish, bachelor, etc., and 
in Kentucky as newlight, Campbellite, and tin- 
mouth, while farther south it is called silver perch, 
speckled perch, goggle-eye, sac-a-lait, shad, etc. 
It inhabits the Ohio and Mississippi river basins 
from Kansas to Louisiana and Texas, and is 
more abundant in Kentucky and other Southern 
states than farther north. Its range, however, 
has been extended by transplantation to many 
states. In general features it resembles the 
calico-bass very much, though to the trained eye 
the differences are very apparent. It is not quite 
so deep nor so robust as the calico-bass. The 
mouth is somewhat larger, and the snout more 
prominent or projecting on account of a depres- 
sion or indentation in front of the eye. The eye 
is a little larger, and the membrane of the jaws 
is quite thin and transparent, hence one of its 
names, — " tin-mouth." The crappie has but six 
spines in the dorsal fin, whereas the calico-bass has 
seven, whereby they may be readily distinguished. 



The Sunfisb Family 8i 

It grows to about the same size and weight 
as the calico-bass, ten or twelve inches, though 
under favorable conditions it grows larger, reach- 
ing a weight of three pounds. I have frequently 
taken it as heavy, or a little heavier, in Kentucky, 
where many ponds and streams seem peculiarly 
fitted for it. In coloration it is much paler than 
the calico-bass, and the markings are not so 
dark or in such large spots or blotches. It is 
silvery olive-green, much mottled with a darker 
shade of same color, especially on the back, the 
lower sides and belly being more silvery and 
seemingly translucent. The dorsal and caudal 
fins are much mottled with shades of green, 
though the anal fin is almost plain. The iris of 
the eye is dark, with a silvery or golden border. 

It is found in clear streams and likewise in 
still, weedy ponds and bayous, or in all situations 
adapted to the large-mouth black-bass, with which 
fish it is nearly always associated. It is admirably 
suited for pond culture. It is quite gregarious 
and loves to congregate about the submerged top 
of a fallen tree or sunken brush, and about mill- 
dams. It feeds on all small aquatic organisms 
and insects and their larvae, and the fry of other 
fishes, tadpoles, etc. 



82 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

While a very free-biting fish, its game qualities, 
when hooked, are not remarkable. It is pulled 
out with scarcely a struggle. It is rather a shy 
fish, withal, and must be fished for cautiously, 
and with little noise or confusion. When these 
precautions are observed, and with very small 
minnows for bait, nearly the entire school can be 
captured in a short time. It is an excellent pan- 
fish, and on this account is a prime favorite. 

For still-fishing, a light rod of a few ounces in 
weight, and a line of the smallest caliber, size H, 
should be used. Hooks for bait-fishing should 
be about No. 3, as the crappie has a large mouth ; 
they should be tied on gut snells. A quill float 
is useful in weedy places, or about brush and 
logs. The best bait is a very small minnow, 
hooked under the dorsal fin, care being taken not 
to injure the spinal cord. Soft crawfish, cut-bait, 
or earthworms may be substituted where minnows 
are scarce. A reel is not necessary for bait-fish- 
ing, but a short leader should always be used, 
and where required a split-shot sinker is heavy 
enough. 

For fly-fishing, the lightest trout fly-rod and 
the smallest click reel should be employed, with 
a braided, enamelled silk line of the smallest 



The Sunfish Family 83 

caliber, and dark or grayish flies of small size, on 
hooks No. 4, on gut snells, with a fine leader. 
The most useful flies are gray, red, and black 
hackles, black gnat, blue dun, gray and brown 
drake, and stone fly ; but far the best fly that I 
have ever used is the Henshall of a small size. 
It has a body of green peacock had, hackle of 
white hairs from a deer's tail, gray wings, and 
tail of a fibre or two from the tail feather of a 
peacock ; they will rise to this fly when no other 
will tempt them to the surface. Toward sunset, 
with the tackle named, on a breezy summer day, 
the angler will be amply rewarded, for under 
these conditions fly-fishing for the crappie is a 
sport not to be despised. 

It has been alleged that the name " Campbell- 
ite," by which the crappie is sometimes known 
in Kentucky, was bestowed because the fish first 
appeared in Kentucky streams about the same 
time that the religious sect founded by Alexander 
Campbell became established in that state. This 
may have been the origin of the name, but I am 
inclined to doubt it from the fact that the crappie 
has probably always inhabited Kentucky streams, 
inasmuch as it was first described by Rafinesque 
in 1820 from Kentucky waters. He gave gold 



84 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

ring and silver perch as the common names then 
in vogue for it at Louisville. I think it more 
likely the name originated in this wise : among 
the many names given to this fish is " newlight," 
probably owing to its bright and apparently 
translucent appearance ; and as this name was 
also bestowed by some on the religious sect 
referred to, the names newlight and Campbellite 
became interchangeable for both fish and sect. 
It is, however, seldom called Campbellite, while 
newlight is the most universal name for it in 
central Kentucky. 

The name crappie, or croppie, has an unknown 
derivation ; perhaps it comes from the French 
crepe, a "pan-cake," from its shape or delicious- 
ness when fried, for it was always a great favorite 
with the French of St. Louis and the Creoles of 
Louisiana. In the latter state it is also known as 
sac-a-lait, " bag for milk " (?). 

Great numbers of crappies are annually seined 
from the shallow bayous and sloughs bordering 
the Illinois and Mississippi rivers by the United 
States Fish Commission, and planted in suit- 
able waters. If allowed to remain in the sloughs, 
which dry up in the summer and fall, they would 
eventually perish. 



CHAPTER II 

THE BASS FAMILY 
{SerranidcE) 

The bass family is composed mostly of marine 
fishes, nearly all of which are good game- and 
food-fishes. These will be described among the 
fishes of the East Coast and Florida in subse- 
quent pages. It is the most typical group among 
the percoid (perchlike) fishes. Only two species 
of the family inhabit fresh water, — the white-bass 
and the yellow-bass. 

The fishes of this family are characterized by 
an oblong body, large mouth, brushlike or bristle- 
like teeth, sometimes with canines ; one or two 
dorsal fins, the first always composed of spiny 
rays ; the anal fin, always with three spines ; 
scales adherent and rough (ctenoid) ; preopercle 
usually serrate ; opercle with flat points or spines ; 
cheeks and opercles always scaly; premaxillary 
protractile ; dorsal and ventral outlines do not 
always correspond ; caudal fin not deeply forked ; 
its peduncle stout. 

85 



86 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

THE WHITE-BASS 

{Roccus chrysops) 

Roccus chrysops. The White-bass. Body oblong, deep, and com- 
pressed ; head 3^; depth 2| ; eye 5; D. IX-I, 14; A. Ill, 
12; scales 10-60-15; mouth moderate, maxillary reaching 
middle of pupil ; a patch of teeth at base of tongue, and a 
patch on each side ; preopercle serrate ; subopercle with a 
deep notch; lower jaw somewhat projecting; dorsal fins sepa- 
rate ; gill-rakers long and slender, ;r + 14. 

Morone inter rtipta. The Yellow-bass. Body oblong, ovate, the 
back arched; head 3; depth 2|; eye 4| ; D. IX-I, 12; A. Ill, 
9; scales 7-50-1 1 ; dorsal fins slightly joined ; jaws subequal ; 
no teeth on base of tongue ; gill-rakers moderate, x -\- 13 to 16 ; 
preorbital and suprascapula serrate. 

The white-bass was first described by Rafi- 
nesque in 1820 from the falls of the Ohio River, 
near Louisville, Kentucky. He named it chrys- 
ops, or "gold eye," owing to the golden hue of 
the iris. It is known also as white lake-bass 
and fresh-water striped-bass. It is abundant in 
Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and upper Mississippi 
River, especially in Lake Pepin, and in Lake 
Winnebago, Wisconsin. It was formerly not 
uncommon in the Ohio River, but is now rare. 
Its body is compressed and rather deep, with 
the back arched ; its head is rather small, but 
the mouth is large, with the lower jaw protrud- 
ing ; the eye is large ; teeth brushlike, without 



The Bass Family 87 

canines. The color is silvery white, greenish 
above, golden below, with six or more narrow 
dusky lines along the body, most conspicuous 
above the lateral line ; those below broken, or not 
continuous. The white-bass is found in water 
of moderate depth, preferring those that are clear 
and cool, as it does not resort to weedy situations. 
It is essentially a lake fish, except in spring, when 
it undergoes a semi-migration, entering the tribu- 
taries of lakes in large schools. It spawns usually 
in May. It feeds on small fishes, crawfish, in- 
sects, and their larvae, etc. Its usual size is a 
pound or a little less, but occasionally it grows 
to three pounds. It is a food-fish of much 
excellence, its flesh firm, white, flaky, and of 
good flavor. 

It is one of the best fresh-water game-fishes, 
being a bold biter, and on light and suitable 
tackle affords much sport to the appreciative 
angler. For fly-fishing, the best season is during 
the spring, when it enters the tributary streams 
of lakes. At this time the fly-fisher will be 
successful at any hour of the day. He may fish 
from the bank or from an anchored boat, the 
latter plan being the best. As the fish are 
swimming in schools, either headed up or down 



88 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

stream, no particular place need be selected, 
though off the points at the edge of the channel, 
or in the narrowest portions of the streams, are 
perhaps the best. In the summer and fall the fish 
are in the lakes or deeper water, when the fishing 
will be more successful during the late afternoon 
hours until sundown, and the angler may be 
guided by the conditions followed in black-bass 
fly-fishing, as mentioned in a previous chapter. 

A trout fly-rod of six or seven ounces, with the 
usual trout click reel and corresponding tackle, 
will subserve a good purpose. When the fish 
are running in the streams the most useful flies 
are gray drake, green drake, stone fly, brown 
hackle, gray hackle, Henshall, and Montreal, of 
the usual trout patterns, on hooks Nos. 5 to 7. 

For bait-fishing, a light black-bass or trout 
rod, with multiplying reel, braided silk line of 
the smallest caliber, a leader of small gut three 
feet long, and hooks Nos. 3 or 4 tied on gut 
snells, will answer well. The best and in fact 
the only bait that can be successfully used is 
■a small minnow, hooked through the lips. The 
fishing is done from an anchored boat on lakes 
or the deep pools of streams, either by casting 
or still-fishing. 



The Bass Family 89 

No fish will rise to the artificial fly except in 
comparatively shallow water, or when near the 
surface, and this is especially true of the white- 
bass when it resorts to the depths after the 
spring run is over. I remember a striking in- 
stance of this that once occurred in Wisconsin. 
I was fishing for black-bass in the Neenah chan- 
nel of Lake Winnebago during the May-fly 
season, when the black-bass were taking the 
artificial fly right along, being near the surface 
feeding on the natural flies, though the water 
was quite deep, with a rocky bottom. A party 
of bait-fishers anchored near my boat, and began 
fishing with heavy sinkers, as the water was very 
swift, and with small minnows for bait. The 
white-bass were not slow in taking the proffered 
minnows, and they caught a goodly number, but 
not a single black-bass ; nor did I take a single 
white-bass during several hours of fishing, for 
they were lying among the rocks at the bottom. 

In the rocky coves about the Bass Islands 
of Put-in-Bay, on Lake Erie, I have had really 
good sport, in the summer months, bait-fishing 
for white-bass, with light tackle, the fish running 
about two pounds ; but with the fly my success 
was generally nil, as they were in deep water, 



90 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

and nothing but minnows would attract them. 
But in the upper Mississippi, notably on Lake 
Pepin, the case was different. About the rocky- 
points of that beautiful lake, and in the clear 
water of the river below, I have enjoyed royal 
sport fly-fishing for white-bass. This was years 
ago. Afterward I made a trip in a steam yacht 
from Cincinnati to St. Paul, traversing the 
Mississippi from Cairo to the head of navi- 
gation, and also going up the St. Croix River to 
Taylor's Falls. On this trip the white-bass fish- 
ing was not so good as in former years, though 
the black-bass seemed to have held their own 
pretty well. I might remark, in passing, that 
the upper Mississippi is one of the most beautiful 
and scenic rivers in the world, and is unsurpassed 
for black-bass fly-fishing. At one time the 
islands of that river furnished superb woodcock 
shooting in summer, which could be varied with 
fine fishing. 

THE YELLOW-BASS 

(^Morone interrnptd) 

The yellow-bass was first described by Dr. 
Theodore Gill in i860. His type specimens 
were from the lower Mississippi River in the 
vicinity of St. Louis and New Orleans. He 



The Bass Family 91 

named it interrupta, in allusion to the broken or 
" interrupted " lines along its sides. It is also 
known as brassy-bass. It belongs to the same 
genus as the white-perch of the East Coast. It 
is found only in the lower Mississippi River and 
its tributaries, sometimes extending its range a 
short distance up the Ohio River. 

The yellow-bass might be called a cousin of 
the white-bass, though it belongs to a different 
genus. It takes the place of that fish in the 
lower Mississippi Valley. Compared with the 
white-bass it has a somewhat longer head, with 
a body not quite so deep ; otherwise the general 
shape is much the same. The mouth is a little 
larger, though the snout does not project quite so 
much, and the profile of the head is straighter, 
and it has a larger eye. The posterior border of 
the cheek-bone is finely serrated. 

The general color is brassy or yellowish, 
darker on the back and lighter on the belly. 
There are about half a dozen very distinct and 
black longitudinal lines along the sides, the lower 
ones broken or " interrupted," the posterior por- 
tions dropping below the anterior, like a " fault " 
in a stratum of rocks. 

It is fond of the deeper pools in the rivers and 



92 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

clear-water bayous, and the foot of rapids and 
riffles. It is partial to the same character of food 
as the white-bass, small minnows constituting the 
greater part. It likewise spawns in the spring, 
and grows to a pound or two in weight, some- 
times reaching three pounds. It is an excellent 
food-fish. 

I have had good sport with the yellow-bass 
on St. Francis River in Arkansas, and at the 
head of the Yazoo Pass, in Mississippi, with the 
same tackle and by similar methods as recom- 
mended for the white-bass on a prior page. As 
with the two black-basses and the two crappies, 
the white-bass and yellow-bass having similar 
habits and kindred tastes, the same tackle and the 
same modes of angling are as well suited for one 
as for the other. This will apply to both fly- 
fishing and bait-fishing. 

I was once, one autumn, with a party on a river 
steam yacht on the lower Mississippi when geese, 
ducks, deer, and turkeys were more plentiful than 
they are now. Up the St. Francis River, in the 
" sunk lands " of Arkansas, the yacht was moored 
at Cow Bayou, near a steep clay bluff, on the top 
of which was a dilapidated tent occupied by a 
young man and his wife, who were building a 



The Bass Family 93 

shanty boat in which to float down to sunnier 
cHmes for the winter, as the man was " nigh 
gone " with consumption. One morning I was 
out early fishing for yellow-bass after a rainy 
night. As I was landing a fish I saw the woman 
at the top of the bluff, looking for a way down to 
the yacht. She was quite a fresh and comely- 
looking woman, too. She started down very 
carefully, for the wet clay was quite slippery. I 
became interested to see how she would succeed. 
Suddenly her bare feet slipped from under her, 
and she came down with a rush, her one garment, 
as I soon discovered, an old calico gown, slipping 
back over her head, disclosing her nude form, 
which appeared very white in contrast to the red 
clay. Then I looked the other way just as she 
flopped over from a prone to a supine position. 
When she reached the river side she looked like 
a sculptor's model in clay. She quietly adjusted 
her gown as if nothing unusual had occurred, 
and asked : " Has you-uns got any matches ? 
We-uns' matches all j^ot wet in the drizzle last 
night, and I want to cook my old man's break- 
fus." I pulled ashore and handed her my match- 
box, and scarcely knowing what to say, I remarked, 
" You had better change your dress before you 



94 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

cook breakfast." She replied, " I hain't got an- 
other one." 

While the boys were eating their breakfast of 
fried fish, deer steak, and broiled duck, I related 
the " toboggan " episode, and mentioned the " one 
frock." When the meal was concluded the boys 
overhauled their belongings and chipped in several 
pairs of slippers, long woollen stockings, under- 
clothing, and blankets, and the " skipper" threw in 
some calico and muslin from the yacht's stores. 
These were made into bundles and carried to the 
top of the bluff by a more circuitous route. Pro- 
ceeding to the tent they deposited their offerings, 
together with some ducks and venison. The 
man and woman were overcome with gratitude, 
but the boys said they were glad to get rid of the 
stuff. The skipper had taken his camera along to 
get a snap-shot at the tent and its occupants, which 
being made known to them the woman said, 
" Wait a minnit ! " She went into the tent, but 
immediately reappeared wearing a large sun- 
bonnet, in which she was " took " with her " old 
man." I have often wondered since why she put 
on that sun-bonnet. My excuse for this digression 
may be found in the memorable words of George 
Dawson, " It is not all of fishing to fish." 



CHAPTER III 

THE BASS FAMILY {CONTINUED) 
{Serrafiidce) 

In addition to the fresh-water species of this 
family and those of the East Coast are the group- 
ers, cabrillas, etc., of Florida waters, to be noticed 
later. The family name is founded on Cuvier's 
genus Serranus, from the Latin serra, or " saw," in 
allusion to the serrated edge of the cheek-bones, 
common to all fishes of this family. 

Roccus Imeatus. The Striped-bass. Body rather elongate, little 
compressed; head 3J ; depth 3J ; eye 6; D. IX-I, 12; A. Ill, 
II ; scales 8-67-1 1 ; back little arched ; head subconical; mouth 
large, maxillary reaching middle of orbit ; lower jaw projecting ; 
teeth on base of tongue in two parallel patches ; preorbital 
entire ; preopercle weakly serrate ; margin of subopercle entire ; 
suprascapula entire ; gill-rakers long and slender, 4 + 15 ; dor- 
sal fins separate ; caudal fin forked. 

Morone americana. The White-perch. Body oblong, ovate, the 
back moderately elevated; head 3; depth z\\ eye 4; D. IX-I, 
12; A. Ill, 8; scales 8-50-12; head depressed above eyes; 
snout rather pointed ; mouth small, maxillary not reaching 
middle of orbit ; preorbital entire ; base of tongue without 
teeth ; head scaled ; dorsal fins connected at base ; gill-rakers 
4+ 16. 

95 



96 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

Centropristes striatus. The Sea-bass. 15ody robust, elevated an- 
teriorly, somewhat compressed ; head z\ ; depth 2.\ ; eye 5 ; D. 
X, 11 ; A. HI, 7; scales 5-55-17; head large and thick, naked 
on top ; mouth rather large, lower jaw projecting ; teeth in 
broad bands, the canines small ; preopercle serrate; gill-rakers 
long, about r -t- 18; scales on cheeks in 11 rows; caudal fin 
double concave or three-lobed. 



THE STRIPED-BASS 

{Koccus li neat us) 

The specific name liiicattcs, or " striped," was 
bestowed by Bloch in 1792. North of the Dela- 
ware River it is universally called striped-bass, 
but in more southern waters it is known as rock 
or rockfish, from its habit of foraging on rocky 
shores in search of crustaceans and small fishes. 
From this vernacular name comes the generic 
name Rocciis. It is found from the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence to Florida, but is most abundant from 
Buzzards Bay to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. 
It has been successfully transplanted to the Pacific 
coast, where it is now common near San Fran- 
cisco. 

The form of the striped-bass varies considerably 
with age. Young specimens are rather slender 
and symmetrical in outline, the depth being about 
a fourth of the length. The depth increases 
with the weight of the fish, while the back be- 




SURF-FlSHlNG FOR BASS 



The Bass Family 97 

comes more arched, and the belly more pendu- 
lous. The head equals in length the depth of the 
body usually. The mouth is large, opening ob- 
liquely ; the snout is rather sharp, and the lower 
jaw projects. The color is olivaceous, often 
bluish on the back, sides with silveiy lustre, fad- 
ing to white on the belly. There are six to eight 
horizontal rows of dark spots, forming interrupted 
stripes, four or five running from head to caudal 
fm, with three shorter ones below; the fins are 
pale and usually unmarked. It is found within 
the range given during the entire year, though 
it frecjuents certain situations at different seasons. 
The largest fish resort to the rocky shores of the 
bays and indentations of the coast between the 
shores and outer reefs, those of smaller size fre- 
quent the estuaries and tideways, and still smaller 
ones seek the shallower and cpiieter waters. 

It spawns in the spring, usually in May, in 
both fresh and brackish water. Large schools 
ascend rivers for long distances in the spring, 
more i)articularly those rivers resorted to by 
the shad, which they seem to follow, perhaps for 
the purpose of feeding on shad spawn, as they 
are said to do. Others follow the smelt up cer- 
tain rivers farther north. A large female will 



98 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

deposit from a million to two million eggs, which 
are about one-seventh of an inch in diameter, are 
free, transparent, and semi-buoyant, and hatch in 
a few days. Owing to a large oil-drop in the 
front part of the yolk-sac, the young fry at first 
swim with the head toward the surface of the 
water, and not in the horizontal position usual 
with the fry of most fishes. 

Its food consists of small fishes, crabs, lobsters, 
shrimps, squids, sandworms, and other marine 
invertebrates. It grows to a very large size, 
being frequently taken by anglers from thirty to 
sixty pounds, and in the nets of fishermen as 
heavy as one hundred pounds or more. In the 
city of Baltimore, in boyhood days, I often went 
to the fish markets on Saturdays to see and ad- 
mire the various kinds of fishes. On one occa- 
sion there were several large rockfish being 
weighed on the old-time balance, consisting of 
a beam and two large, flat, wooden scales sup- 
ported by chains. The largest fish did not weigh 
quite two fifty-six-pound weights. A man then 
asked me how much I weighed, and I replied 
one hundred and three pounds. I was then 
placed on the scale instead of the weights, with 
the result that the fish outweighed me perhaps 



The Bass Family 99 

a pound or two. At all events it weighed be- 
tween one hundred and three and one hundred 
and twelve pounds — probably one hundred and 
five pounds. It was as long as an average man. 

The striped-bass is a food-fish of fine quality, 
and the markets of the eastern cities are well 
supplied with it during summer and fall, and to 
a certain extent during the winter. It is very 
active from early spring until late in the fall, 
when it resorts to the back-waters and bayous of 
tidal rivers for the winter. It is said by some to 
hibernate, but this is doubtful. The opinion is 
probably due to the fact that it is more sluggish 
and listless while in winter quarters, and refuses 
to respond to the wiles of the angler. 

That the striped-bass is a game-fish of high 
degree goes without saying. It is rated by some 
enthusiastic anglers as being superior even to the 
salmon in game qualities. This opinion, how- 
ever, is hardly correct when the two are com- 
pared weight for weight. In surf-fishing the first 
rush of a large fish, upon feeling the hook, is 
something to be remembered. It is probably 
longer and stronger than that of a salmon of 
equal weight, for the reason that while the latter 
fish is leaping from the water in its efforts to 



loo Bass, Pike, and Perch 

escape, tlie bass is making his furious clash for 
liberty beneath the surface, and exerting every 
ounce of his muscular fibre in tlie effort. But 
tliis immense strain cannot long be continued, 
and as he seldom breaks water like the salmon, 
and does not sulk, he resorts to strategy and 
fmesse to free himself. 

After making several desperate but ineffectual 
rushes to escape, he may endeavor to chafe or 
part the line against sharp rocks, or to foul it 
among the kelp or sea-weeds. Sometimes, but 
not often, he dives toward the angler to obtain 
slack line, which is a dangerous move if the reel 
does not respond quickly in taking up the loose 
line. When it is considered that all of these 
manoeuvres of a monster bass to free himself 
occur amidst the rolling and tumbling of the 
surf, or in the dashing of foam-crested combers, 
while the angler often has but a precarious foot- 
ing on a slippery rock, and perhaps with a half 
gale of wind blowing, some idea may be formed 
of the skill and good judgment required to sub- 
due and land so valorous a fish. And under 
such conditions it is very natural for the angler 
to rank his noble quarry with the salmon. 

When a Baltimore boy I thought there was no 



The Bass Family loi 

better sport than still-fishing for rockfish running 
from a half to a pound or two, on the flats off 
Fort McHenry, the Lazaretto, or up the Patapsco 
River near the Long Bridge. It was good sport, 
too, for the fish were plentiful in those days, and 
from an anchored boat, with light cane rod and 
shrimp bait, I was often on the ground to catch 
the young flood tide at sunrise, or before, on 
summer mornings, and seldom failed to be re- 
warded with a full basket of small striped-bass. 
Still-fishing in summer is best practised in 
comparatively shallow water in the estuaries, at 
the edge of the tideways, near the mouths of 
rivers, or up streams of good size as far as the 
tide reaches. In some cases the fishing may be 
done from bridges, piers, wharves, or from the 
bank, but usually from an anchored boat. In 
the estuaries and at the mouths of rivers the 
first of the flood and the last of the ebb are usu- 
ally the best stages of the tide. In the shallow 
bays and lagoons, or far up the rivers, the full 
tide is the most favorable time. For this fishing 
the rod should be light, pliable, and not more 
than nine feet in length. A black-bass rod can 
be utilized to good advantage. The best rod for 
the purpose, however, is the " Little Giant," a 



I02 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

modification of the Henshall black-bass rod. It 
is in two pieces, seven and one-half feet long, and 
weighs eight ounces in ash and lancewood, or 
seven ounces in split bamboo. It is stiffer than 
the Henshall rod, so that a two- or four-ounce 
sinker can be used with it whenever necessary. 
A good multiplying reel must be employed with 
black-bass rods. The line should be fifty yards 
of braided linen, smallest size, with a three-foot 
leader of single gut; Sproat or O'Shaughnessy 
hooks Nos. I or i on gut snells are large enough 
for bass up to two or three pounds. A small 
float is useful on grassy bottom with shrimp or 
crab bait, and sinkers of weights in accordance 
with the strength of the tidal current must be 
employed, also a landing-net. 

Shrimps, soft or shedder crabs, soft-shelled 
clams, sandworms, small minnows, silversides, 
spearing or killifishes, are all good baits in their 
season. Shrimp is perhaps the best all-round 
lure. It should be hooked under the back plates, 
and a single shrimp is sufificient for small bass. 
Shedder or soft crab should be cut in small 
pieces. The scallop is likewise an attractive 
bait, especially in the fall, when clam bait may 
also be used to advantage. Early in the spring 



The Bass Family 103 

shad roe may be used in quiet waters, or at 
slack tide, but it is a difficult and unpleasant 
bait to handle. 

The bait should be from one to three feet 
above the bottom, and should be kept in motion. 
Even crab bait should not be allowed to lie on 
the bottom, as some anglers advise. To main- 
tain the proper position and depth of the bait 
the angler may employ a float, with or without 
a sinker, as the exigencies or conditions demand. 

Very often hand-lines or stiff cane poles are 
used in estuary fishing, and the bass, even when 
of several pounds in weight, are yanked out of 
the water into the boat at once. But with the 
tackle recommended above the pleasure of the 
angler is enhanced, and the fish given a chance 
for his life in the brief struggle that follows. 

In trolling for fish of from three to ten pounds 
a natural bamboo rod, eight or nine feet long, 
answers well with one hundred yards of braided 
linen line, size E or F, and Sproat hooks No. 2-0 
to 3-0 on gut snells. Where the bass run 
larger, two hundred feet of line, size E, with 
hooks Nos. 5-0 to 6-0 may be required, also a 
heavier rod. The baits for trolling are blood- 
worms of large size, a minnow hooked through 



I04 Hdss, Piki\ and Penh 

{\\c lips, the iiatunil s(|iii(l or an ccl-lail ; also 
the arlilicial s(|iii(l ol hone or hloik tin, or a 
troUing-sjJoon or spiniuT with a single hook. 
When the s|)oon or artificial s(|iii(l is used it is 
not ni'eessary or advisable to add sandvvornis 
or other naluial hail, as is often done. I'jnploy 
one or the other, hut never both in eonihina- 
tion. The arliheial baits are sulheiently attrac- 
tive' in tlu'nisi'lves, and the additions mentioned 
do not enhance tlu-ir eliectiviMU'Ss. The boat 
should be rowed aIonL;siH)re, or over rocky 
reefs or shoals, and about tlu* eddies of rock 
pools. As the hsh always hooks itsell in troll- 
in<j[, it only remains for the angler to play and 
land his (piarry in good form, always having a 
large landing-net or gaff in tlu' boat. 

Casting menhaden bait from the rocky shores 
of the coast recpiires tools and tackle of great 
exci'llence and strength, as tlu' largest bass are 
taken in tiiis way. The most approved rod is 
a first-class split-band)oo, eight or eight and 
one-hall leet long, and weighing Irom twel\e to 
sixteen ounces. A more serviceable rod, that is, 
one that will admit of harder usage, is made of 
greenheart, lanci'wood, or bi'thabara, of the same 
length, but sonu-what heaxiei-. A cheapiM" rod. 



The Bass Family 105 

but one that will give good satisfaction, and 
withal is lighter than a wooden rod, is made of 
natural male Calcutta bamboo, and is known 
as a " chum " rod. Rods of eight or eight and 
one-half feet in length should be made in two 
or three pieces, or if not exceeding seven and 
one-half feet may be made of one six-foot piece 
with a handle of eighteen inches. They should 
have double bell-mouth guides and funnel top. 
The more expensive rods should have the 
guides, or at least the funnel top, lined with 
agate. 

The reel must be a first-class multiplier, made 
expressly for surf-fishing, with jewelled or steel 
bearings, with a capacity of two hundred yards 
of from twelve- to eighteen-thread Cuttyhunk line. 
The hooks should be knobbed Sproat or 
O'Shaughnessy, Nos. 5-0 to 7-0, and attached 
to the line by two half-hitches, the loose end 
turned up and secured by another half-hitch. 
A long-handled gaff-hook of good steel and 
very sharp is indispensable. A chum knife 
and spoon are also necessary, and a woollen 
thumb-stall will be needed for thumbing the 
reel, or a piece of leather may be affixed to one of 
its bars as a brake. 



io6 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

The bait for casting may be the tail of a 
lobster, cleaned of every vestige of shell, but 
menhaden bait is generally used. After scaling 
the fish, a slice of several inches is cut from its 
side, tail end, and scored on the flesh side longi- 
tudinally with a sharp knife, to admit of its 
being more readily folded along the hook, which 
it should envelop completely. The small end 
of the bait is affixed to the head of the hook 
by a half-hitch or two, its bend and barb being 
concealed by the broader end of the bait. This 
is the conventional method of baiting, though 
I have had good success in more southern 
waters by using an entire bait of mullet or 
other silvery fish, five or six inches in length, 
and hooked through the lips. 

The residue of the menhaden, after the baits 
are cut off, is chopped fine, and is known as 
" chum." This is thrown in the water to attract 
the bass. It is called " chumming," and causes 
an oily " slick " that spreads over the surface 
for a long distance. The pieces of cut fish 
thrown in are soon swallowed by scup, cunners, 
bass, and other fishes, leaving nothing but the 
oily slick on the surface. The bluefish, being a 
surface feeder, is probably attracted by the slick. 



The Bass Family 107 

but it is questionable if it is noticed by the 
striped-bass, a bottom and mid-water feeder. 
And even if the common behef were true, it is 
not hkely that the bass would be tolled directly 
toward the angler through a slick covering 
many acres. The real attraction is in the 
chopped menhaden that sinks below the surface. 
Casting the menhaden is quite an art. It is 
somewhat in the nature of casting a minnow for 
black-bass as described on a previous page, 
though the rod is a two-handed one and the bait 
much heavier. The bait is reeled up to within 
a foot or two of the rod tip, and the rod grasped 
by both hands, one just above and one below the 
reel, with the thumb of the lower hand resting on 
the spool of the reel, and protected by a woollen 
or leather thumb-stall. With the rod at one side, 
it is given a preliminary whirl, or swing or two, 
and the bait cast, underhand, much like striking 
at a hip-high or shoulder-high ball with a bat. 
The cast is made from either side, and while 
some anglers place the right hand below in cast- 
ing from both sides, it is not the best way. In 
casting from the right side the left hand should 
be below, and the reel controlled by the left 
thumb; while in casting from the left side the 



io8 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

right hand should be below. The thumb should 
maintain a gentle and uniform pressure on the 
spool as it revolves, to prevent backlashing, and 
by a stronger pressure stop the revolution of the 
spool as the bait reaches the water. 

As long a cast is made as possible, and when 
the bait settles it should be reeled in again very 
slowly and the cast repeated until the bait is 
taken by a bass. When the water is very rough, 
so as to churn the bait and keep it in constant 
motion, fewer casts are necessary, as the bait can 
be left in the water for a longer time before 
making a new cast. When the fish is hooked 
and starts on his initial rush, line should be 
given, the thumb always on the spool to check 
him when it can be done without endangering 
the tackle. His first rush will probably be his 
strongest, and he must then be killed on the rod 
and reeled in to the gaffer. During the struggle 
of playing the fish, great care must be observed 
to prevent the cutting or chafing of the line 
against sharp rocks, and to keep the fish away 
from weeds, timbers, or other obstructions. 

As the bass may weigh anywhere from ten to 
fifty pounds, the utmost skill and precaution are 
necessary to land him safely. Very often the 



The Bass Family 109 

angler has not only to contend with the fish, but 
with the strength and undertow of the tide and 
the tossing of breakers — factors that are by no 
means to be despised or neglected. But once 
fairly gaffed, the angler may feast his eyes on the 
grand fish, weighing, perhaps, thirty pounds or 
more, and congratulate himself on a great achieve- 
ment. 

When the bass are running far up the fresh- 
water streams in the spring, they will often take 
the artificial fly. As the fish do not run much 
heavier than black-bass, the rod and tackle used 
in fly-fishing for that fish can be utilized, employ- 
ing such flies as oriole, polka, coachman, red ibis, 
or other showy creations. The fishing is more 
successful about sundown. 

Many years ago the striped-bass was planted 
in the waters of the Pacific coast by the United 
States Fish Commission. It has multiplied ex- 
ceedingly, so that bass-fishing is now a favorite 
sport with San Francisco anglers, who fish the 
neighboring bays, rivers, and sloughs with great 
success. The baits commonly used are clams 
and the trolling-spoon. The sport has culminated 
in the formation of several striped-bass clubs, 
with quite a large membership. 



no Bass, Pike, and Perch 

THE WHITE-PERCH 

(^Morone americatia) 

The white-perch was described, but not named, 
by Shopf, in 1788, from the waters near New 
York. From his description Gmelin named it, 
in the same year, Perca americana, or " Ameri- 
can perch." The genus Morone was established 
for it in 18 14 by Dr. Mitchill, as owing to struc- 
tural differences it could not properly be placed 
in the genus Perca. 

The white-perch is one of the most abundant 
fishes of the brackish waters on the Atlantic 
coast, its range extending from Nova Scotia to 
South Carolina, but more especially from Cape 
Cod to Cape Hatteras. It is also landlocked in 
fresh-water ponds at various places along the 
coast. 

It is a handsome fish, symmetrical in outline, 
and well proportioned. Its body is compressed, its 
depth is not quite a third of its length. Its head 
is as long as the depth of the body, depressed 
above the eyes, and with a somewhat pointed 
snout. The mouth is rather small ; the teeth are 
small, without canines ; there are a few teeth 
on the edge of the tongue, but none on its base. 



The Bass Family m 

There are two dorsal fins, though they are con- 
nected at the base. 

Its color is olivaceous, or green of various 
shades on the head and back, with silvery or 
greenish sides, and silvery white belly. Some- 
times the color is bluish on the back and head. 
Those confined in ponds are always darker in 
hue. 

The white-perch is one of the best and most 
esteemed pan-fishes of the eastern coast. It 
grows to a foot or more in length, occasionally 
weighing three pounds ; but the usual size is 
from six to nine inches, and from one-half to a 
pound in weight in brackish water. Smaller 
ones ascend the streams to fresh water. It is 
usually found associating with small striped-bass, 
and their habits are much alike, feeding on the 
same food, as small rninnows, young eels, shrimp, 
etc. It spawns in the spring, usually in May, in 
shallow, weedy situations in both fresh and brack- 
ish water. The eggs are quite small, about forty 
thousand to a fish, and hatch in three or four days. 

As a boy I was very fond of fishing for white- 
perch, which were then very abundant in the 
Spring Garden branch of the Patapsco River, at 
Baltimore, from Ferry Bar to the mud-flats near 



112 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

the Long Bridge, and alse) abt)ve tlic bridge on 
the main river in braekish water. Being gregari- 
ous, it was found in large sehools, and was a free 
biter at slirinips, shedder-crab, small minnows, 
and earthworms. At the time of which I write 
it was very plentiful at the mouths of all tidal 
rivers emptying into Chesapeake Bay. I have 
seen great wagon loads brought ashore in one 
haul of a long market seine. And in camping 
along the Bay, during my summer vacations, they 
seemed to be as plentiful as blackberries. There 
was never any dearth of fried white-perch or 
other fishes in ouv camp, and we never tired of 
them. We feasted on them daily, with terrapin, 
soft-shelled crabs, oysters, green corn, tomatoes, 
cantaloupes, and watermelons, and all to be had 
for the mere catching or asking. 

Any light rod may be used for white-perch, 
with or without a small multiplying reel, with a 
line of braided linen, smallest size, and hooks 
Nos. 6 to 8. Most anglers use two or three 
hooks, but I would advise a single hook for all 
kinds of fishing. A short leader of single gut, 
about three feet long, is an advantage, and hooks 
should be tied on gut snells. 

In quiet water, with small, live minnows for 



The Bass Family 113 

bait, a sinker or float need not be used. In tidal 
waters a sinker is necessary to keep the bait at 
mid- water, or a few feet from the bottom, espe- 
cially when shrimp, crab, or earthworms are used 
for bait. The weight of the sinker must be 
adapted to the strength of the tide. The best 
season is during late summer or autumn in 
brackish water, from an anchored boat, at half- 
flood or half-ebb tide ; up the tidal rivers at 
high tide. At low water they must be looked 
for in the deep holes, among the rocks. Wher- 
ever found the white-perch will not disappoint 
the angler, but is ever ready to respond to his 
baited hook. 

It rises pretty well to the artificial fly, especially 
when landlocked in ponds, or far up the streams. 
Trout tackle and trout flies are just right, on 
hooks Nos. 7 or 8; and as the most favorable 
time for fishing is toward dusk, light-colored flies 
are the best, as coachman, gray drake, red ibis, 
oriole, etc. 

I was once fishing for white-perch on Gun- 
powder River, in Maryland, with a companion 
who happened to lose one of his hooks through 
a defective snell, which, however, he soon recov- 
ered by catching the perch that had stolen it. 



114 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

We were perfectly sure that it was his, as he had 
tied his hooks himself with a peculiar shade of 
sewing silk. He then marked the fish by clip- 
ping off a portion of one of the spines of the 
dorsal fin, and returned it to the water, only to be 
retaken three times, twice by my friend and once 
by myself. The lips of the perch being then 
quite ragged from the frequent hooking, it was 
humanely killed and deposited in the basket. 

From my experience with both wild and domes- 
ticated fish I am quite sure that cold-blooded 
animals, like fishes and batrachians, are not very 
sensitive to pain. Owing to the very small brain 
and the gelatinous character of the spinal marrow 
of fishes, it is very doubtful if they suffer much, 
if any, pain from the infliction of so slight an 
injury as the pricking of a fish-hook. If it were 
otherwise, I do not think a hooked fish would 
offer so much resistance and pull so hard upon 
the hook if it caused much pain. Nor does it 
seem reasonable that a fish would repeatedly sub- 
ject itself to the same experience if its mouth 
felt at all sore, as all experienced anglers know 
they do, time and again. The mouth and throat 
of a fish cannot be very sensitive when it is con- 
sidered that it swallows, whole, such prey as 




THE SEA-BASS 
Centropristes sMatus 




THE MASCALONGE 
Esox nobilioK 




The Bass Family 115 

sunfish and catfish fry, bristling with sharp fins 
and spines, and those of the catfish are always 
erect, even if swallowed head first. Marine fishes 
also swallow crabs, lobsters, prawns, besides mol- 
lusks, sea-urchins, and other creatures that would 
be exceedingly irritating and painful to a sensitive 
throat. 

THE SEA-BASS 

{Ccfttropristes striatus) 

The sea-bass is known in various localities as 
black sea-bass, black will, black harry, hannahills, 
humpback, and also by names belonging rightly 
to other well-known fishes, as blackfish, bluefish, 
and rock-bass. The name sea-bass, however, 
is in most general use, and is the most distinctive 
and appropriate. Linnaeus described it briefly, in 
1758, and named it striatus, or "striped." He 
afterward received specimens from South Caro- 
lina, which in 1766 he named atraria, or " black- 
ish," but the older name must hold according to 
the law of priority. 

It is confined to the Atlantic coast, with 
range extending from Cape Cod to Florida, but 
it is most abundant along the coast of New 
Jersey. It has a robust body, its depth not quite 



ii6 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

a third of its length ; the back is elevated over 
the shoulder, the " hump " being more prominent 
in males during the breeding season. The head 
is large and thick, with a large, oblique mouth, 
leathery lips, and projecting lower jaw. The fin 
rays are long and slender, and the caudal fin is 
double concave. 

Its color is bluish black, sometimes greenish 
black or dusky brown on the back and top of the 
head, lighter on the sides and belly. The edges 
of the scales being dark, give a mottled, streaked, 
or reticulated appearance. The dorsal fin has 
several series of bluish white elongated spots ; 
the other fins are bluish or dusky, and are more 
or less mottled. Young specimens have a broad 
dusky band or stripe along the sides, which later 
becomes broken up, forming cross shades. 

The sea-bass, as its name implies, is a sea fish, 
seldom entering brackish water. It congregates 
in large schools about the offshore rocky reefs 
and shoals, and about old wrecks, feeding on 
crabs, shrimps, and other marine organisms, 
often in company with the tautog and porgy. 
It is a deep-water fish, and of course a bottom 
feeder. It spawns in summer, between May and 
August, depending on the temperature of the 



The Bass Family 117 

water, but usually in June. The eggs are quite 
small, about twenty-five to the inch, and hatch in 
from four to six days. Its usual weight is from 
one-half to two or three pounds, occasionally 
weighing ten or twelve pounds. It is very 
voracious and will take almost any kind of bait 
that is offered. It is taken in large numbers by 
market fishermen on hand-lines and clam bait. 
It commands a ready sale, being a good food- 
fish, with firm, flaky flesh of a fine savor, and is 
highly valued for chowders. It is a hard-pulling 
fish on the line, boring toward the bottom with 
vicious tugs. 

A light cane chum rod is very suitable, or 
perhaps the Little Giant rod is better. It is 
seven and one-half feet long and weighs eight 
ounces, and will bear the strain of such sinkers as 
must be used. The line should be braided linen 
of small caliber, and a multiplying reel should 
always be used. A short leader of three or four 
feet, and Sproat hooks, Nos. i-o to 3-0, on silk- 
worm fibre and a sinker adapted to the strength 
of the tide, make up the rest of the tackle. As 
the fishing is done from an anchored boat a land- 
ing-net should be provided. With the tackle 
just mentioned, at slack tide, and with clam, 



ii8 Bass, Pike, and Pmb 

shedder-crab, sandworms, or shrimp bait, the 
angler can enjoy a good measure of sport with 
the sea-bass. Where the tide runs very strong, 
compelling the use of heavy sinkers of from 
three to six ounces, a striped-bass rod should be 
employed, especially in water from fifteen to 
thirty feet deep. 

Great crowds of men, women, and children 
patronize the excursion boats from New York 
and Philadelphia, in the summer season, to catch 
bass, porgies, tautog, and flounders on the various 
fishing banks off the Jersey coast, where they 
use hand-lines and clam bait. While such fish- 
ing is greatly enjoyed by the uninitiated, it does 
not appeal to the angler. 

THE SOUTHERN SEA-BASS 

( Cffiir(>/>ris/t-s philaticlpliiius) 

This species was described by Linna?us in 
1758, and named pJiiladclphiais, under the 
impression that his specimen was from the 
vicinity of that city. Afterward he received 
specimens from the South Carolina coast, which, 
in 1766, he named trifurca, meaning "three- 
forked," in allusion to its *' triple-tail." The older 
name, unfortunately, must stand. 



The Bass Family 119 

Its color is olive-gray, darkest on the back, 
whitish below, with seven oblique dusky and 
diffuse bars along the upper portion of the 
sides. The three-forked appearance of the cau- 
dal fin is more pronounced than in the northern 
sea-bass; otherwise there is no structural differ- 
ence, except in coloration. Its habits are simi- 
lar. The same remarks apply equally to the 
following species, except that it has a few less 
gill-rakers than the northern species. They may 
eventually all prove to be the same species, or 
geographical varieties. The directions as to 
fishing apply as well to both these southern 
forms as to the northern sea-bass. 

THE GULF SEA-BASS 
{Centropristes ocyurus) 

This species was described from the "snapper 
banks," off Pensacola, by Jordan and Evermann 
in 1886, who named it ocyurus, or "swift tail." It 
has not been recorded from any other locality. 
It agrees with the northern sea-bass, except as 
mentioned, and in its coloration, which is grayish 
or pale olive, darker on the back, with three longi- 
tudinal rows of black blotches along the sides. It 
is called " tally-wag " by the snapper fisherman. 



CHAPTER IV 

THE PIKE FAMILY 
(^EsocidcE) 

The fishes of this family have a long body, 
not much compressed, and not elevated. The 
head is long, with a flattened and prolonged 
snout ; a very large mouth filled with long and 
very sharp, cardlike teeth on the jaws and roof of 
the mouth, and with smaller teeth on the tongue. 
They have a single dorsal fin composed entirely 
of soft rays, and situated very far back and 
opposite to the anal fin, which is likewise com- 
posed of soft rays. The scales are small ; the 
cheeks and gill-covers are more or less scaly; 
the head is naked above. All are greedy, vora- 
cious fishes, marauding tyrants, living almost en- 
tirely on other fishes. There is but one genus, 
Esox. 

Esox nobilior. The Mascalonge. Body elongate ; head 3| ; depth 
6; eye 5; B. 17 to 19; D. 17; A. 15; scales 150 along the 
lateral line ; cheeks and opercles naked below, scaly above ; in 
about 8 rows. 




THE MASCALONGE OF THE WEEDS. TROLLING WITH 
HAND-LINE 



The Pike Family 121 

Esox lucius. The Pike. Body elongate ; head 3I ; depth 5 ; eye 6 ; 

B. 14 to 16; D. 16 or 17; A. 13 or 14; scales 125; cheeks 

entirely covered with scales ; lower half of opercles naked, upper 

half with scales. 
Elsox reticulatus. Eastern Pickerel. Body elongate; head 3^; 

depth 6 ; eye 8 ; B. 14 to 16 ; D. 14 ; A. 13 ; scales 125 ; cheeks 

and opercles entirely covered with scales. 
Esox vermiculatus. The Western Pickerel. Body elongate ; head 

3^; depth 5 to 6; eye 6; B. 12; D. 11 or 12; A. 11 or 12; 

scales 105 along the lateral line; cheeks and opercles entirely 

covered with scales. 
Esox afnericanus . The Banded Pickerel. Body elongate; head 3J ; 

depth 5I; eye 5 ; B. 12 or 13; D. 11 or 12; A. 11 or 12; 

scales 105 ; cheeks and opercles entirely covered with scales. 

As some anglers find it difficult to distinguish 
a large pike from a mascalonge, or a pike from a 
pickerel, owing to the similar shape and appear- 
ance, the several species can be easily identified 
by means of the following artificial key : 

The mascalonge {Esox nobilior) has the upper part of both the 
cheeks and gill-covers scaly, while the lower half of both cheeks 
and gill-covers is naked; it has from 17 to 19 branchiostegal 
rays (the branchiostegals are the rays on the under side of the 
gill-cover, that, like the ribs of an umbrella, assist in opening 
and closing it during breathing). Its coloration is of a uniform 
grayish hue, or when marked with spots or bars they are always 
of a much darker color or shade than the ground color. 

The pike {Esox lucius) has the cheeks entirely scaly, but only the 
upper part of the gill-cover, the lower half being naked ; it has 
from 14 to 16 branchiostegal rays; its coloration is a bluish or 
greenish gray, with elongated or bean-shaped spots covering 
the sides, and which are always of a lighter hue than the ground 
color. 



122 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

The eastern or reticulated pickerel {Esox reticulatus) has both the 
cheeks and the gill-covers entirely covered with scales ; it has 
from 14 to 16 branchiostegal rays; its coloration is shades 
of green, with sides of golden lustre, and marked with dark retic- 
ulations, mostly horizontal. It is rarely or never found west of 
the Alleghanies. 

The little western pickerel (^Esox vermiculatus) has both cheeks and 
gill-covers entirely scaly, as have all the pickerels ; it has from 1 1 
to 13, usually 12, branchiostegal rays; its coloration is greenish 
or grayish, with curved streaks on the sides forming bars or 
reticulations ; the color is quite variable, sometimes plain olive. 
It is found only west of the Alleghanies. 

The banded or American pickerel {Esox amerkanus') has, like the 
other true pickerels, both the cheeks and the gill-covers entirely 
covered with scales ; it has 12 or 13 branchiostegal rays ; colora- 
tion dark green, sides with many distinct black curved trans- 
verse bars ; a black bar below the eye, and one from the snout 
through the eye to the gill-cover. It is found only east of the 
Alleghanies. 

THE MASCALONGE 

{^Esox nobilior) 

The specific name nobilior, long current for 
the mascalonge, and the one based on its earH- 
est accurate description, was conferred by Rev. 
Zadoc Thompson in 1849 in "Notes on Certain 
Vermont Fishes," in the Proceedings of the Bos- 
ton Society of Natural History, Vol. Ill, pub- 
lished July 1 8, 1849, and later he described it 
fully in the " History of Vermont," 1853, Part I. 
It is an excellent and appropriate name, and one 
that has become familiar to anglers. I have re- 



The Pike Family 123 

lained it, inasmuch as it was discarded, I think, 
for a very insufficient reason. 

The specific name masquinongy, which has re- 
cently been given to this species in the books, is 
supposed to have been given to the mascalonge 
by Dr. Mitchill in 1824. His description, how- 
ever, cannot now be found. It is alluded to by 
De Kay in his " Fishes of New York," in 1842, 
who gives its reference as " Mirror, 1824, page 
297"; but I have searched for it in vain, as have 
others. De Kay merely says : " According to 
Mitchill, who describes a specimen 47.0 long and 
weighing thirty pounds, the fin rays are as follows : 
'D. 21; P. 14; V. 11; A. 17; C. 26.' But this 
radial formula is just as applicable to Richard- 
son's E. lucius : 'D. 20; P. 16; A. 18,' also 
given by De Kay. The size and weight of 
the alleged specimen of Mitchill would vSeem to 
indicate the mascalonge, but the great northern 
pickerel, Esox lucius, occasionally reaches a like 
size and weight. I once caught one weighing 
twenty-five pounds in northern Wisconsin, and 
saw several a little heavier, one of fully twenty- 
eight pounds. 

Dr. Kirtland, in 1838, had, previous to De Kay, 
applied Mitchill's name masquinongy to a speci- 



124 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

men from Lake Erie, and it is upon this evidence, 
principally, that this name has been adopted as 
the specific title of the mascalonge. 

But afterward Dr. Kirtland used Thompson's 
name nobilis (meaning nobilior) and Le Sueur's 
name estor for the mascalonge. He also subse- 
quently described the mascalonge from Lake Erie 
as atromaculatus, and one from the Mahoning 
River, Ohio, as ohiensis. From this it would ap- 
pear that Dr. Kirtland, although a good naturalist 
in his day, was not at all clear in his estimation of 
the mascalonge. 

There has been considerable controversy con- 
cerning the common or vernacular name of the 
mascalonge. Some claim it is from the French, 
and derived from the words " masque " and " al- 
longe," which virtually mean "long face," and 
which is certainly nearer to the common pronun- 
ciation of mascalonge or muscalunge. Others 
claim it is an Indian name from the Ojibwa lan- 
guage, as " mash," meaning " strong," and " kinoje," 
meaning " pike." " Mash " is also said to mean 
" spotted " and " deformed." From mash and 
kinoje come " maskinonge," as it appears in the 
statutes of Canada. The name has been spelled 
in numerous ways, as evidenced in the Century 



The Pike Family 125 

Dictionary, which gives the following variations : 
maskalonge, mascalonge, maskalunge, maskal- 
longe, masquallonge, masq'allonge, mascallonge, 
muscalonge, muskalonge, muskalinge, muskel- 
lunge, moskalonge, moscononge, maskinonge, 
maskanonge, maskenonge, maskenozha, maski- 
noje, and maskenonge, to which might be added 
muscalinga, mascalinga, etc. There is no author- 
ity or precedent for the name " muskellunge " as 
used by some writers and anglers, as neither the 
original French or Indian words have the letter 
" u " in either the first or last syllable. Moreover, 
the term " lunge " is in some sections applied to 
the lake trout. I am aware, of course, that the 
name has obtained considerable currency, but in 
much the same way that the black-bass is called 
" trout " in the South, and the pike-perch is de- 
nominated " salmon " in certain localities. 

Rev. Zadoc Thompson, who was the first to call 
attention to the scaling of the cheeks as a diagnos- 
tic character, gives the vernacular name "masqual- 
longe," and attributes it to French derivation, to 
which opinion I am inclined. As the most prom- 
inent writers on fish and fishing give it as " mas- 
calonge," that name should be universally adopted, 
no matter what its origin, or whether derived 



126 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

from the French Canadians or the Chippeway 
Indians; that question is more interesting to 
philologists than to anglers. As an instance of 
inconsistency, or of the irony of fate, the books 
give the scientific name of the subgenus as 7}ias- 
calongtis, from the French, and the specific name 
as masquiuivigy, from the Ojibwa. 

The mascalonge is common in the St. Law- 
rence basin and the Great Lakes, more abundant 
in the lakes of northern Wisconsin, less common 
in the upper Mississippi River, Chautauqua Lake, 
New York, and Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, 
and rare in the upper Ohio River and tribu- 
taries. It has a long body, somewhat com- 
pressed, its depth being about one-fifth of its 
length; the head is large, about a fourth of 
the length of the body, and flattened, with the 
lower jaw projecting. It has a terrible array of 
teeth of assorted sizes. On the edge of each 
side of the lower jaw are several long, bayonet- 
shaped teeth, from one-half to an inch apart; in 
the front part of the tip of the projecting lower 
jaw are a few short but sharp teeth, recurved ; in 
the front part of the upper jaw are three clusters 
of long, fanglike teeth, standing out amidst the 
smaller, cardlike teeth; on the edge of the for- 



The Pike Family 127 

ward half of the upper lip is a row of small, but 
very sharp, recurved teeth ; back of these on the 
roof of the mouth (vomer and palatines), and ex- 
tending back from the fangs in front to the throat, 
are three rows of cardlike teeth, recurved and 
very sharp. 

The coloration and markings vary so much 
that several varieties have been needlessly estab- 
lished, as the variations are found in every local- 
ity, and do not seem to depend on habitat or en- 
vironment. The usual color is dark gray, green- 
ish or brownish, always darker on the back, 
lighter on the sides, and belly white or whitish. 
The fins usually have dusky or slate-colored spots 
or blotches; the lower fins and caudal fin are 
often reddish. The markings of the body vary a 
great deal. In the young the upper half of the 
body is covered with small, round black spots, 
which usually disappear or change their shape as 
they grow old. In mature fish the spots are more 
diffuse, sometimes enlarging to an inch or more 
in diameter, or by coalescing form vertical broad 
bands, while in others there are no distinct dark 
markings. And while all of these various mark- 
ings are found in fish from the same locality 
there is no apparent structural difference. 



I2S Bass, Pike, and Pcnb 

I have oxaminod and compared specimens from 
the St. Lawrence and Indian rivers, New York, 
Lake Krie, the Wisconsin lakes, Lake Pepin, Chau- 
tauqua and Conneaut lakes, Scioto and Mahoning 
rivers, in Ohio, and have seen preserved heads of 
large ones from Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, 
and found that they all agree so well in the num- 
ber of branchiostegals, squamation of cheeks and 
opercles, in dentition, fins, and in measurements, 
that they must all be considered as one and the 
same species. At the Chicago Columbian Expo- 
sition there were sonie twenty very large speci- 
mens of mounted skins from Canadian waters, in 
the exhibit of the Ottawa Museum, which showed 
well the variation in markings. Some still showed 
the dark spots on a gray ground ; others were 
more or less distinctly barred with broad or narrow 
bands; others showed both bars and diffuse spots ; 
and still others were of a uniform slate or gray- 
ish coloration, without markings of any kind. In 
the museum of the Cuvier Club, in Cincinnati, 
there are quite a number of mounted skins of 
mascalonge from the Wisconsin lakes, mostly 
large ones, that also show all of the various 
markings, as well as those of a uniform colora- 
tion. 



The Pike Family 129 

About 1890 I donated to the Cincinnati Society 
of Natural History a specimen from Lake Erie; 
and in 1S92 I donated to the United States Na- 
tional Museum two specimens from Lake Erie, 
and one from a tributary of the Muskingum River, 
in Ohio. All of these Ohio fish were from eighteen 
inches to two feet long, and all showed similar 
markings, being profusely covered with round 
black spots from an eighth to a quarter of an 
inch in diameter. Where the spots become dif- 
fused, and the bands are inclined to spread and 
coalesce, they are always more distinct toward the 
tail. In a mascalonge of less than a foot in length 
the spots are very black, very round, and quite 
small, not exceeding a sixth or an eighth of an inch 
in diameter. 

Various appellations have been bestowed on 
the mascalonge to denote its rapacity, as the 
shark, wolf, or tiger of the waters, all of which are 
well merited by that fierce marauder. It subsists 
entirely on fish, frogs, snakes, and even the young 
of aquatic mammals and water fowl. Nothing in 
the shape of food comes amiss to him. He is 
solitary in his habits, lying concealed among the 
water plants and rushes at the edges of the 
streams or channels and along the shores, or 



I30 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

beside shelving rocks or banks in clear lakes, 
from whence he darts open-mouthed upon the 
luckless fish that approaches his lair. The num- 
ber of fishes swallowed by a mascalonge during a 
single summer is almost incredible; and they are 
not minnows and small fry alone, such as are 
devoured by other predaceous fishes, but such as 
are old and large enough to reproduce their kind. 
It is fortunate that the mascalonge is compara- 
tively a rare fish. As it is now being artificially 
propagated in some states, great care and judgment 
should be exercised as to the waters planted, so as 
not to jeopardize other and better game-fishes. 

It spawns early in the spring and in very shal- 
low water, where most of the eggs are devoured 
by frogs, turtles, fishes, and water fowl — a wise 
provision of nature when it is considered that 
the female deposits from one hundred thousand 
to three hundred thousand eggs. The eggs are 
quite small, about ten or twelve to an inch, and 
hatch in about two weeks. The mascalonge is 
the most valuable food-fish of its family, and is 
pronounced by some as being really excellent; 
but I consider it much inferior to the whitefish, 
lake-trout, pike-perch, black-bass, or brook-trout. 
While possessing no especial flavor, its flesh is 



The Pike Family 131 

firm and flaky, more so than that of the pike or 
pickerel, and it commands a ready sale in the 
markets. 

It grows occasionally to an enormous size. I 
have taken it up to forty pounds, good weight. 
The late Judge Potter, of Toledo, Ohio, an angler 
of the old school, informed me that he had seen, 
in early days, many that weighed from fifty to 
seventy-five pounds. Mr. L. H. McCormick, for- 
merly of Oberlin College, Ohio, saw one taken in 
a pound net that weighed seventy-two pounds. 
The late Dr. Elisha Sterling, formerly of Cleve- 
land, Ohio, a contemporary of Judge Potter and 
the late Dr. Garlick, the father of artificial fish- 
culture in America, told me of one he once 
speared in Lake Erie that weighed eighty 
pounds, and said that those of fifty to sixty 
pounds were common in the forties. 

The mascalonge is the best game-fish of its 
family. When of large size, from twenty to 
thirty pounds, it exhibits a bull-like ferocity when 
hooked, making furious dashes for liberty, and if 
not stopped in time will eventually take to the 
weeds. It exhibits great powers of endurance, 
but little finesse or cunning in its efforts to 
escape. It depends on main strength alone. 



132 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

swimming swiftly in straight lines, as might be 
inferred from its shape. Its long body does not 
admit of the quick doublings of the black-bass or 
brook-trout. If kept on the surface with a taut 
line it sometimes leaps into the air ; but if allowed 
its own sweet will it bores toward the bottom, or 
endeavors to reach the refuge of weeds or rushes. 
One of less weight than twelve pounds, when 
hooked, can scarcely be distinguished from the 
pike or pickerel in its manner of resistance, and 
exhibits but little more gameness. 

A black-bass rod of eight or nine ounces is suf- 
ficient for the largest mascalonge one is likely to 
encounter in these days. I caught one on the 
St. Lawrence, many years ago, that weighed 
thirty-two pounds, on an eight-ounce Henshall 
rod, and gaffed it in twenty minutes. Others 
have done the same even with a lighter rod. But 
it must be remembered that the weight of the 
fish, added to his fierce lunges, is very trying to a 
light rod, and I should not recommend one of less 
weight than eight ounces, which will answer for 
all emergencies in skilled hands. A good multi- 
plying reel, a braided silk or linen line, size E or 
F, and Sproat or O'Shaughnessy hooks Nos. 3-0 
to 5-0 on gimp snells, with brass box-swivel for 



The Pike Family 133 

connecting snell and line, constitute the rest of the 
tackle. 

The best season for mascalonge fishing is in 
May or June, and in September and October, the 
latter months preferable. The most favorable 
hours are in the early morning and late after- 
noon. The middle of the day may be fished with 
a better prospect of success on cloudy, lowering 
days, with a brisk wind. 

The best bait is a large minnow, either alive 
or dead, though a frog answers very well ; and 
in the absence of either, a trolling-spoon, No. 4, 
with a single hook, may be utilized for casting. 
Rowing along in water from five to ten feet 
deep, the bait should be cast as far as possible 
to the edge of weed patches, reeling it again 
very slowly, or if the bait is alive it may be 
allowed to swim outside of the water-plants for 
a short time. By moving along continuously, 
and making frequent casts, this method is much 
more successful than still-fishing. When the 
wind is just right, or when the current is strong 
enough and the wind not contrary, it is a good 
plan to allow the boat to drift while casting. 

As soon as a fish is struck and hooked the 
boat should be moved to deeper and open water 



134 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

at once, in order to give free play to the fish and 
lessen the probability of its taking to the weeds. 
In open water the angler has a better chance 
successfully to play and land his quarry, which 
should be kept on the surface as much as pos- 
sible. He can be aided very much in his efforts 
by the careful and judicious management of the 
boat by a skilful oarsman. 

When the mascalonge shows signs of weakness 
and can be drawn alongside, it should be gaffed 
at once. Not by striking at it with quick and 
violent motions, which serve only to frighten 
the fish and endanger the angler's tackle, but the 
gaff should be kept below the fish until it can 
be drawn over it, and then by raising it slowly 
and cautiously, until near enough, when, by a 
quick upward and drawing motion, the point of 
the hook should be driven into the throat or 
breast of the fish, and by the same motion the 
fish should be lifted into the boat. It should then 
be killed by a smart stroke on the head, as a 
wound from its sharp teeth is no trifling matter. 
In the absence of a gaff-hook the fish should be 
more thoroughly exhausted before bringing it 
alongside the boat, when it should be struck a 
stunning blow on the head before being taken in. 



The Pike Family 135 

The bait or spoon may be trolled along the 
edges of the channel, just outside of the weed 
patches, from a moving boat, with a line of thirty 
to fifty yards. In trolling, the revolving spoon, 
glistening and shining, is the attractive lure, and 
any addition of a minnow, or strip of fish or pork- 
rind, or other bait, as is often resorted to by some, 
is entirely unnecessary. It adds nothing to the 
chances of hooking a fish, and should never be 
practised by the consistent angler. He may 
use pork-rind if he wishes, but let it be used 
alone, on its own merits. A spoon is bad enough 
in any case, but it only makes it more repre- 
hensible and repulsive, to the angler at least, to 
handicap it with bait of any kind ; even the 
bunch of feathers that usually adorns the spoon 
should be discarded, as it is of no practical use. 

Most mascalonge are taken, I am sorry to say, 
by trolling with a hand-line of heavy braided 
linen, size B or C, and a spoon of very large 
size, as large as No. 8, which seems to be the 
favorite size with hand-trollers. In this method 
of fishing the mascalonge hooks himself when he 
strikes the spoon. It is then drawn in, hand 
over hand, as the sailors say, with might and 
muscle. And as might be supposed, those who 



136 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

practise this method arc loudest in their praise 
of the mascalonge as the " king of all game- 
fishes." A quick pull, a strong pull, and a pull 
all together, with the hauling aboard as soon as 
possible of the struggling fish, amidst much 
splashing and floundering, seems to be their 
estimation of gameness in a fish. 

The foregoing remarks apply to fishing on 
lakes and quiet, weedy streams of the Northern 
states. In the clear and swifter waters of the 
upper Ohio, and its tributaries, the mascalonge 
lies in the deep pools during summer and fall, 
where it is taken by still-fishing. A large sucker, 
weighing from half a pound to a pound, is the 
favorite bait, with suitable rod and reel. The 
fish is given plenty of time to gorge the bait 
before striking, and this is quite important with 
so large a bait. Many large mascalonge, there 
called "pike," have been taken in this manner 
in those waters, events to be long remembered 
and talked about, while the head is carefully pre- 
served for the admiration and envy of future 
generations of anglers. 

Once when returning from a fishing trip to 
northern Wisconsin when mascalonge were much 
more in evidence than at the present day, I was 



The Pike Family 137 

carrying the head of a forty-pounder that just 
filled an ordinary tin bucket. At Appleton, 
while waiting for the train to Green Bay, the 
big head was the centre of an admiring group 
of anglers. Then came the natural and inevitable 
query, "Where did you catch it.?" In order to 
avoid a long recital, which only could have done 
justice to the subject, and expecting the train at 
any moment, I replied, " An Indian speared it on 
Lake St. Germain." They looked at me as if I 
had seven heads ; then one said : " Well ! well ! It 
requires an awful lot of moral courage to make 
such an admission." But I killed it, all the 
same, on a nine-ounce rod, and my Indian canoe- 
man gaffed it. 

THE PIKE 

(Esox lucins) 

The pike is more generally known in the 
United States as "pickerel," and sometimes as 
the great northern pickerel to distinguish it from 
the pickerel, properly so-called. In England the 
young pike is a pickerel, an older one a jack, 
and the mature fish a pike. In England and 
continental Europe the pike {E. lucius) is the 
only species of the family inhabiting their 
waters, while there are five species of the family 



138 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

in America, which makes it all the more confus- 
ing when the name "pickerel" is applied indis- 
criminately to all, — even the mascalonge being 
sometimes alluded to as an " overgrown pickerel." 

The range of the pike in America is from 
Lake Cham plain, the Great Lake region, and 
the upper Mississippi River, north to Alaska; 
it is rare in the Ohio Valley. 

Next to the mascalonge the pike is the most 
important and largest member of the pike 
family. It has a long body, somewhat com- 
pressed, its length being a little more than 
five times its depth. The head is large, some- 
what more than a fourth of the length of the 
body, with a long, flattened, and projecting 
snout; the teeth are similar, but not quite so 
large or numerous as in the mascalonge. 

The coloration and markings of the pike are 
quite constant, not varying so much as in others 
of the family, and is very different from those 
of the mascalonge or any of the pickerels. The 
ground color is grayish or greenish gray, darker 
on the back and fading to silvery white on the 
belly; the sides, from head to tail, are profusely 
covered with irregular, oblong, or bean-shaped 
whitish spots or blotches, much lighter than the 



The Pike Family 139 

ground color; the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins 
are marked with dark spots or blotches. It 
is somewhat more gregarious, and is more of a 
rover than the mascalonge; otherwise its habits 
are very similar, and it coexists with that fish 
in many waters, especially in the region of the 
Great Lakes. It feeds on fish, frogs, and water- 
snakes. Its usual weight reaches fifteen pounds, 
though it occasionally grows to four feet in 
length and a weight of twenty-five or thirty 
pounds. 

As a food-fish it is variously estimated. Some 
consider it to be very good, and it sells well in 
the markets, — which, however, is not always a 
fair criterion. It is much better in the fall and 
winter than in summer. Most people who 
know it best, and I agree with them, think it 
inferior to any fresh-water fish for the table 
except the carp and sucker. Its flesh is soft 
and dry, and unless of large size is not flaky, 
and it is, moreover, very full of small bones. 
One of ten pounds, stuffed with a savory dress- 
ing and baked, is not unpalatable, but cannot 
be compared favorably with the whitefish, black- 
bass, or trout. 

The pike when of large size is a good game- 



I40 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

fish. Its weight and strength, added to its 
bold rushes when hooked, are very trying to 
light tackle. One of fifteen pounds is worthy 
of the angler's most serious attention on an 
eight-ounce rod. Its manner of fighting is simi- 
lar to that of the mascalonge, though in a lesser 
degree, and it does not continue its resistance 
so long. After a few frantic rushes it weakens 
very materially, and if kept away from weeds 
soon gives up the struggle for freedom. 

In England, where game-fishes are much 
scarcer than in this country, the pike is con- 
sidered a fine game-fish and is much sought 
after by bait-fishers, and with a wonderful array 
of murderous traces, minnow-gangs, and spinning 
tackle. In the United States, where there are 
so many better game-fishes, it is not often made 
the object of special pursuit. Most pike are 
caught by anglers in northern waters when 
fishing for black-bass. 

Ordinary black-bass rods and tackle are very 
suitable for pike fishing, though where they 
run large, eight to fifteen pounds, an eight- or 
nine-ounce rod is to be preferred to a lighter 
one. A good multiplying reel, a braided line, 
either silk or linen, size F, and Sproat hooks, 



THE EASTERN PICKEREL 

Esox yeticulatus 




THE WESTERN PICKEREL 
Esox vermiculatus 




THE PIKE-PERCH 
Sti2ostedion vitreum 




THE YELLOW-PERCH 
Perca flavescens 



The Pike Family 141 

Nos. 2-0 to 3-0, are better suited to large pike 
than black-bass. 

A minnow, or a trolling-spoon of small size 
with a single Sproat or O'Shaughnessy hook, 
may be employed in casting from a boat along 
the edges of weed patches, lily-pads, and wild 
rice, and along the shoals and bars. The same 
tackle can be utilized for trolling in the same 
situations. Where the conditions are favorable 
it is advisable to allow the boat to drift, in order 
to dispense with the noise and confusion of 
rowing or paddling. The directions already 
given for black-bass fishing, as to playing and 
landing the fish, will answer just as well for the 
pike. 

As the pike seems to suggest the trolling- 
spoon, this is a good place to say a few words con- 
cerning that little-understood article of fishing 
tackle. In the first place, it should never have 
more than a single hook, and that should never 
be handicapped by adding a minnow, frog, or 
strip of fish or bacon-skin, as is so often done. 
The hook should be left free to perform its 
function, untrammelled by extraneous and useless 
appendages. If the angler pins his faith to them, 
by all means give them a fair chance on a hook 



142 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

without a spoon ; it is not only more logical, but 
more sportsmanlike. Give the fish a chance, 
also, and of two evils let it choose the least by 
using them separately. Seriously, the spoon is 
a most alluring and attractive bait in itself. Its 
bright and shining appearance when spinning 
and glancing through the water is well-nigh 
irresistible to a predaceous fish, and is in itself 
all that could be desired as an effective lure. 

The original trolling-spoon (made by Buell) 
was the bowl of a dessert spoon, with a hole in 
the broadest end for the line, and a single hook 
soldered to the narrow end. It is as effective 
as the best trolling-spoon made to-day. With a 
single hook, either loosely attached or soldered 
to the spoon, one is more apt to hook his fish, 
and more certain of landing it, to say nothing 
of the cruel and inhuman practice of using the 
triangle of three hooks usually attached to most 
trolling-spoons. 

Manufacturers generally affix a triangle of 
hooks to trolling-spoons, disguised by a bunch 
of red and white feathers that are worse than 
useless. The spoon is made of many shapes and 
of various sizes, and often of two or three spoons 
combined. They seem to vie with each other as 



The Pike Family 143 

to who can turn out the most ridiculous contriv- 
ance, for the farther it departs from the original 
spoon the more useless it becomes. Manufac- 
turers are not all anglers, and endeavor to produce 
what is most novel and attractive to the pro- 
spective customer. Such appliances sell to the 
uninitiated and unwary, but do not catch many 
fish, or even anglers of experience. 

And the same remarks will apply in a measure 
to the gang or trace of several hooks, usually 
employed in trolling or spinning the minnow. 
A minnow, hooked through the lips — and it 
may be a dead one — with a single hook, will 
move more lifelike, and be really more attractive 
to the fish, than the whirling, wabbling one, brist- 
ling with a dozen hooks. It is cruel and heartless 
to employ so murderous a device. I have seen 
the mouths of bass and pike and lake-trout 
lacerated and mutilated, sometimes the lips and 
upper jaw torn completely off, by the triangle of 
the spoon or the half dozen or more hooks of the 
gang or trace. If their use cannot be dispensed 
with on the score of inutility, a single hook being 
far more successful, their employment should be 
relinquished in the name of humanity. 

The pike will not often rise to the artificial fly, 



144 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

but will take it if allowed to sink a foot or two 
after casting. Many years ago, in Wisconsin, I 
devised the "polka" black-bass ily, and on its 
first trial, at the very first cast, it was seized by a 
pike of six pounds. The polka has a body of red 
floss silk, with spotted wings of the guinea fowl. 
I have frequently taken the pike with other red- 
bodied flies, as the Abbey, red ibis, king of the 
water, and Montreal, but the polka was always 
the favorite. Flies with bodies of peacock harl, 
as coachman, Henshall, Governor Alvord, etc., 
are very useful, as w^ll as some with yellow 
bodies, as professor, queen of the water, and 
Lord Baltimore. The afternoon hours, especially 
toward sundown and until dusk, are the most 
promising for fly-fishing. Large flies are also 
successfully used in trolling for pike, from a 
rather slow-moving boat. For fuller instructions 
for fly-fishing the reader is referred to those 
given for the black-bass, which will answer very 
well for the pike, especially where the two fishes 
inhabit the same waters. 

Fishing through the ice for pike or pickerel 
has quite a fascination for some persons, even for 
those who never fish in any other way. And 
there is a certain kind of enjoyment in it, though 



The Pike Family 145 

actual fishing, as we understand it, has but Httle 
to do with it. If the ice is glare and free of snow, 
one can vary the amusement with skating. The 
bracing, nipping air on a clear day, with the sun 
shining brightly on the winter landscape, has its 
charms, and fishing through the ice is a good 
pretext for a winter outing. A dozen or more 
holes are cut through the ice in a circle, its 
diameter extending over the feeding grounds of 
the pike, whether small or great in extent. A fire 
may be built in the centre, if far from the shore 
on a lake, or on the shore itself if convenient to 
the holes. The holes being cut and a fire made 
for comfort, the next thing to do is to place the 
" tip-ups," as they are called, and bait the hooks, 
when there is nothing more to be done but to fill 
one's pipe and wait by the fire for the anticipated 
event — the rising of a signal proclaiming a " bite." 
Tip-ups are made in several ways, but the 
simplest plan, which is as good as any, is to 
provide a piece of thin board, say two or three 
feet long and two or three inches wide. A few 
inches from one end a hole is bored, through 
which is thrust a round stick, like a section of a 
broom-handle, and long enough to extend well 
across the hole in the ice. A short line, usually 



146 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

three or four feet long, with suitable hook and 
sinker, is tied to the short end of the thin board, 
through a small hole bored for tlie purpose. The 
hook is then baited, placed in the water, and 
the thin board is laid down on its edge, with 
the short end at the middle of the hole in the 
ice, and the round stick straddling it. It will be 
readily understood that a fish pulling on the line 
at the short end of the thin board, or lever, will 
raise the long end, thus indicating to the watcher 
the looked-for event. The long end of the lever 
may be shaved to a point, to which a signal flag 
may be affixed. Where the fish are plentiful it 
will keep one pretty busy running from one hole 
to another to take off the pike or rebait the 
hooks. 

When residing at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 
I found that fishing through the ice for pike and 
yellow-perch was a favorite sport. I indulged in 
it once for pike and several times for perch, for 
the latter is a firm, sweet, and delicious pan-fish 
in the winter. Driving over La Belle Lake in 
my sleigh to the " pickerel grounds," where my 
man had cut the holes the day before, the tip-ups 
and lines were soon arranged and the hooks 
baited with live minnows. A fire was then built 



The Pike Family 147 

on the shore, near at hand, to warm the chilled 
fingers. It was pretty tame when considered 
from the angler's point of view; but with the 
keen, crisp winter air, and the bright sun spar- 
kling on the pure white snow, on which I occa- 
sionally took a spin in the sleigh, it was quite 
an enjoyable experience. In the course of a few 
hours several pike were taken and left lying 
on the snow, where they soon became frozen 
stiff. Upon my arrival at home they were 
placed in a tub of cold water, when all but one 
or two revived and began to swim about ; the 
latter were probably too thoroughly frozen or 
may have been dead before being frozen. Apro- 
pos of this : I had some minnows in a live box, at 
the edge of the lake near my home, that thawed 
out alive in the spring after being frozen all 
winter. They were evidently the same minnows, 
as there were no dead ones, and the live ones 
could hardly have got into the box from the lake. 
The mediocrity of the pike as a game-fish is 
doubtless a just estimation in a majority of cases, 
but once in a while one will exhibit game quali- 
ties that will surprise the most doubting and con- 
temptuous angler, compelling his admiration, and 
forcing him to admit that there are exceptions 



148 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

to all rules, but more especially in fishing. I was 
once one of a party of black-bass fishers on a lake 
in Wisconsin. In one of the boats was a lady of 
Milwaukee, who was justly considered one of the 
most expert and level-headed anglers in the party. 
She always stood up in her boat, was a marvel in 
casting the minnow, and played a bass to a finish 
in a style both graceful and artistic after a short, 
sharp, and decisive contest. She used the light- 
est rods and tackle, and the best. On this occa- 
sion, after landing a number of gamy bass and 
logy pike, she hooked a pike of about six pounds 
that put her six-ounce rod to the severest test, 
and gave her twenty minutes of the liveliest 
work that a fish is capable of. It leaped repeat- 
edly from the water, and rushed not only straight 
away, but twisted and turned and doubled in a 
manner that would have done credit to the gam- 
est bass. Finally she brought it to the landing- 
net in triumph, though she was, to use her own 
expression, " completely tuckered out." I venture 
to say that no man of the party would have been 
successful in landing that pike, with the same 
tackle, in the same length of time. 

A woman who is an expert angler will risk 
her tackle to f^reater lengths than a man, and will 



The Pike Family 149 

take more chances in subduing a fish within a 
reasonable time. This is not because of reckless- 
ness, or because she docs not understand or 
appreciate the tensile strength of her rod. On 
the contrary, she knows her tackle well, and has 
the utmost faith in its potentiality. I knew a 
lady friend who was never more than thirty min- 
utes in bringing to gaff any salmon of from 
twenty-five to thirty pounds. And my Kentucky 
friend, Mrs. Bachmann (formerly Mrs. Stagg), 
killed her tarpon of two hundred and five pounds 
in eighty minutes. 

THE EASTERN PICKEREL 

(Esox reticulatus) 

The eastern pickerel, also called chain pickerel 
in the North, and jack in the South, was first 
described by Le Sueur, in 18 18, from the Con- 
necticut River. He named it reticulatus, owing 
to the " reticulations " or the netted character of 
the markings on the body. 

Its range extends from Maine along the coast- 
wise streams to Florida and Louisiana. West of 
the Alleghanies it has been reported from the 
Ozark region of Missouri and Arkansas, but I am 
rather inclined to doubt it. 



150 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

In its general form the pickerel resembles a 
small pike, though it is more slender, has a larger 
eye, and its coloration is quite different. The 
ground color is either olive-brown or some shade 
of green, the sides with a golden lustre, and the 
belly white. The sides are marked with many 
dark lines and streaks, mostly oblique and hori- 
zontal, forming a kind of network. There is a 
dark vertical bar below the eye; the dorsal fin is 
plain; the lower fins sometimes reddish; the 
caudal fin occasionally has a few dark spots or 
blotches. 

In its habits of feeding and spawning it is 
similar to the pike, spawning in the early spring. 
It is found in weedy ponds in the North, and in the 
quiet, grassy reaches of southern streams. It feeds 
mostly on small fishes and frogs. It grows to a 
foot in length, usually, sometimes to two feet and 
weighing seven or eight pounds, though its usual 
maximum weight is three or four pounds. 

In the New England states it is regarded by 
many as not only a fine game-fish, but an excel- 
lent food-fish as well. Others despise it on both 
counts, and there you are. To many a Yankee 
boy fishing for pickerel was the highest ideal of 
angling, but with the larger experience of mature 



The Pike Family 151 

years his idol has been thrown from its pedestal, 
and he, too, has learned to look askance at the 
friend of his youth. But while the pickerel is not 
a game-fish of high degree, it is capable of furnish- 
ing a fair amount of sport with light black-bass 
tackle in waters not too weedy. 

Ordinary black-bass rods and tackle are quite 
suitable for pickerel fishing, either with bait or 
fly, though the hooks should be larger, about i-o 
to 2-0, on gimp snells or heavy silkworm fibre. 
Where the weeds are too thick to admit of play- 
ing the fish a reel can be dispensed with, and a 
plain, light bamboo or cane rod, in its natural 
state, can be substituted for the jointed rod. It 
should be long enough to furnish considerable 
elasticity, say twelve feet, as its flexibility must 
subserve, somewhat, the purposes of a reel. 

The pickerel will take a sunken fly in shallow 
water, after it has been fluttered on the surface 
awhile. The red ibis, soldier. Abbey, polka, 
Montreal, and coachman are all good pickerel 
flies, if cast toward the dusk of evening. 

Skittering is a favorite method of fishing for 
the pickerel in weedy ponds. It is practised with 
a long cane rod, and line of about the same length 
as the rod, with or without a reel. A spoon bait, 



152 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

frog, or a piece of white bacon-rind cut in the 
semblance of a fish, or a frog's hind legs, skinned, 
are skittered or fluttered on the surface near the 
lily-pads and pickerel weeds. The fish should be 
kept on the surface if possible, when hooked, and 
drawn into open water ; otherwise it may become 
entangled in the weeds and lost. 

The pickerel may also be taken by still-fishing 
from a boat with the live minnow or frog. On 
open water, a very successful way is trolling with 
a small spoon and single hook, or a dead minnow. 
For these methods the reader is referred to pike 
or black-bass fishing on previous pages. 

I have found the pickerel as far south as east- 
ern Florida, where it is known as " pike," though 
it is rarely met with, and owing to its rarity is 
held in pretty fair esteem as a game-fish. In the 
marshes and rice ditches of South Carolina, and 
some sluggish streams of southeast Georgia, it is 
rather more plentiful, though usually of inferior 
size and dusky coloration. I once caught several 
on the Cooper River in South Carolina when 
fishing with very light tackle for " bream," which 
were unusually active and strong, and which im- 
pressed me as entitled to a better reputation as 
a game-fish than is commonly accorded to it by 



The Pike Family 153 

anglers. On the whole, the eastern pickerel is 
not half a bad fish, as English anglers would say. 
One might go farther and fare worse. 

THE WESTERN PICKEREL 

(^Esox vermiciilatus) 

The western pickerel was first described by 
Le Sueur from the Wabash River. He named 
it vermiculatus, owing to the " wormlike " appear- 
ance of its markings. He collected it about 
181 8, but his description was not published until 
1846. It inhabits the Mississippi Valley, south to 
Arkansas and Mississippi, and the tributaries of 
Lakes Erie and Michigan. It is not found east 
of the Alleghanies. 

It is formed on the same general lines as the 
other members of the pike family, but is rather 
more slender and rounder, with a shorter head, 
proportionally, but a larger eye. Its color is 
olive-green, or grayish green, darker on the back, 
and belly white. The sides are covered with 
many dark curved streaks, inextricably mixed, 
or forming reticulations. The coloration is quite 
variable in different waters. A dark vertical bar 
is usually present below the eye ; the sides of the 
head are variegated. 



154 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

It is common in the grassy streams of the 
Middle West and weedy bayous of the South- 
west, never exceeding a foot in length. The 
late Dr. Elisha Sterling, of Cleveland, Ohio, once 
sent me a plaster cast of one not more than eight 
inches in length, with the ovaries exposed, show- 
ing the ripe ova. It is not of much importance 
as a game-fish or as a food-fish. It spawns in 
early spring, and feeds on small fish, frogs, and 
tadpoles. It may be fished for in the same way, 
and with the same tackle as recommended for 
crappies on a previous page. 

THE BANDED PICKEREL 

(^Esox anicruani/s) 

The banded pickerel. Long Island pickerel, or 
brook pickerel, as it is variously known, was one 
of the first of its family to be recognized. It was 
described by Gmelin, in 1788, from Long Island, 
New York. He named it amcricamis, or " Amer- 
ican pike," as a variety of the European Esox 
lucius. 

It is found only east of the Alleghanies in 
coastwise streams from Massachusetts to Florida. 
It is almost a duplicate of the little western pick- 
erel in its general form, and represents that species 



The Pike Family 155 

in eastern waters. The characteristics of fin rays, 
scales, and squamation of cheeks and gill-covers 
apply equally to both species. 

The ground color is dark green; belly white; 
sides with about twenty distinct, blackish, curved, 
vertical bars, often obscurely marked, but not 
distinctly reticulated. There is a black vertical 
bar below the eye, and a horizontal band extend- 
ing from the snout, through the eye, to the gill- 
cover. The lower fins are often quite red. I 
have collected it on the east coast of Florida of a 
beautiful emerald-green coloration, without dis- 
tinct dark markings, and with orange-colored 
lower fins — a most beautiful fish. 

Although an interesting little fish, it is of no 
importance to anglers and is merely mentioned 
here, with the little western pickerel, to enable 
the reader to identify the different members of 
the pike family. It spawns early in the spring. 
It seldom grows beyond a foot in length, and is 
usually much smaller. Fishing for it is on the 
same plane with sunfishing, and the lightest 
tackle should be employed. 



CHAPTER V 

THE PERCH FAMILY 
(^PercidcE) 

Most of the species belonging to this family 
are the dwarf perches, the beautiful little darters 
of the clear streams. The only genera of impor- 
tance as game-fishes are Stizostedion, the pike- 
perches, and Perca, the yellow-perch. They are 
characterized by an elongate, nearly round body ; 
small, rough, and adherent scales; rather large 
mouth with sharp teeth; spines on opercle, and 
preopercle serrate ; branchiostegals six or seven ; 
two dorsal fins, the first composed of spines, 
the second of soft rays; the anal fin with two 
spines. 

GENUS STIZOSTEDION 

Stizostedion vitreum. The Pike-perch. Body elongate ; back some- 
what elevated; head 4; depth 5; eye 4; D. XIV-20; A. H, 
12; scales 10-125-25 ; head and cheeks sparsely scaled; canine 
teeth on jaws and palatines ; opercle with small spines ; pyloric 
coeca 3. 

Stizostedion canadense. The Sauger. Body elongate and spindle- 
shaped; head 3^; depth 4^; eye 5; D. XHI-iS ; A. H, 12; 
156 



The Percb Family 157 

scales 9-100-27; head and cheeks scaly; spines on opercle; 
head depressed and pointed ; pyloric coeca 5 to 7. 

GENUS PERCA 

Perca flavescens. The Yellow-perch. Body oblong, somewhat 
compressed, the back elevated ; head 3 J ; depth 3-J ; eye 5 ; D. 
XIV-15; A. II, 7; scales 6-75-17; top of head rough; profile 
convex from dorsal to occiput, thence concave to snout, which 
projects ; cheeks scaly ; opercles nearly naked ; preopercle and 
shoulder girdle serrated ; teeth in villiform bands ; branchioste- 
gals 7 ; scales strongly ctenoid. 



THE PIKE-PERCH 

{Stizostedion vitreum) 

The pike-perch or wall-eye was first described 
by Dr. Mitchill in 1818, from Cayuga Lake, New 
York. He named it vitrea in allusion to its large 
vitreous or glassy eye. It would have been indeed 
fortunate if the name glass-eye or wall-eye, with or 
without the suffix perch, had been adopted; for 
this fine fish is a true perch, with nothing "pike- 
like " in form or habits, except its large mouth 
and canine teeth, and nothing " salmon-like " 
except its trimly-shaped body. But these fancied 
resemblances have caused it to be called in vari- 
ous localities wall-eyed pike, yellow pike, blue 
pike, glass-eyed pike, salmon, and jack salmon. 
It is also known in Canada as dore and okow, 
and among the commercial fishermen as "pick- 



158 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

erel." However, the names pike-perch and wall- 
eyed pike have been rather universally adopted, 
and it will probably be always known by these 
names. Pike-perch is the Anglicized form of 
Lucioperca, the Latin name of the genus in 
Europe. 

It is abundant in Canada and the Great Lake 
region, and fairly abundant in the upper Missis- 
sippi River and its tributaries, and especially in 
Lake Pepin. It is found also in the lake region 
of northern Minnesota, and in the lakes and 
streams of Wisconsin and Iowa. It is not un- 
common in the upper Ohio River and tributaries, 
south to Tennessee. On the Atlantic slope it is 
more rarely found from Pennsylvania to Georgia, 
where it often exists in brackish water. I have 
taken it in my boyhood days at Ferry Bar, a 
point on the Patapsco River, near Baltimore, 
Maryland. Its range is being constantly ex- 
tended by transplantation. The pike-perch is a 
very trimly-built and shapely fish. Its body is 
rather slender, not much compressed. The head 
is well shaped, neither too large nor too small, 
with a large mouth well filled with teeth, some 
quite long and sharp. The eye is very large and 
glassy. Like all the perches it has two dorsal 



The Perch Family 159 

fins, well separated; the caudal fin is forked. 
The scales are small and rough. The edge of 
the cheek-bone is toothed or serrated, and the 
edge of the gill-cover has one or more small 
spines. The color varies considerably in differ- 
ent localities, and even in the same waters. The 
usual color is olive, or greenish brown, mottled 
with brassy or yellowish blotches forming oblique 
but indistinct lines, or vermicular markings. The 
head is similarly colored and marked ; the lower 
jaw is reddish ; the belly and lower fins pinkish 
or yellowish; the first dorsal fin is not much 
marked, but has a large black blotch on its pos- 
terior border; the second dorsal fin is mottled 
with olive, brown, and yellow; the caudal fin is 
likewise mottled, with the tip of the lower lobe 
white or light colored. 

The pike-perch frequents waters of good depth, 
only entering the shallow portions of streams and 
lakes at spawning time, and at night when feed- 
ing. It prefers a bottom of rock or gravel in 
clear and cool water, and loves to lie in the deep 
pools at the foot of riffies, or at the entrance of 
streams ; or where the current is strong and deep 
near mill-dams and under sunken logs, or shelv- 
ing rocks and banks, and about the timbers of 



i6o Bass, Pike, and Perch 

bridges in deep water. It is nocturnal in its 
habits, for which it is well fitted by its large and 
prominent eye, and seeks its prey, which con- 
sists mostly of small fishes, in shallow water. 

It spawns in the spring, and in lakes usually 
resorts to its spawning grounds in the winter, 
where it is caught through the ice in large num- 
bers in certain localities, notably in Put-in- Bay on 
Lake Erie, and in Lake Pepin and other north- 
ern lakes. It spawns in sand or gravel in shallow 
water. Its eggs are small, twelve to an inch, and 
average fifty thousand to a female. After spawn- 
ing it retires to deeper water, and in summer locates 
in the deepest pools. During the spring freshets 
it sometimes ascends smaller streams in its search 
for food. Its usual weight does not exceed three 
or four pounds, though it often grows much larger, 
from ten to twenty pounds. I have seen preserved 
heads of fish that must have weighed thirty or 
forty pounds, which had been caught in Kentucky 
— in Tygert Creek and Kentucky River. It is 
highly prized as a food-fish, its flesh being white, 
firm, and flaky, and of an excellent flavor. It is 
a commercial fish of much importance, especially 
on Lake Erie, from whence it is shipped in large 
numbers to the city markets, where it always com- 



The Perch Family i6i 

mands a ready sale, being in great demand during 
the Lenten season. 

The pike-perch is a good game-fish, taking live 
bait eagerly, and rising pretty well to the fly. 
When hooked it is a vigorous fighter, pulling 
strongly and lustily. It does not exhibit much 
dash or take line rapidly, but swims away rather 
slowly, but at the same time is constantly tugging 
and jerking on the line in such a manner as to 
require careful handling with light tackle. Or- 
dinary black-bass rods and tackle are well suited 
for the pike-perch up to six or eight pounds, either 
for bait-fishing or fly-fishing. Where they are 
found in considerable numbers, and especially on 
lakes where pickerel or pike abound, gimp snells 
should be used instead of gut snells to withstand 
their sharp teeth; otherwise the tackle may be 
the same as recommended for black-bass fishing. 
The best bait is a live minnow, though crawfish 
are successfully used. On lakes it should be fished 
for in comparatively deep water, over pebbly or 
rocky bottom. On streams the likely places are 
in deep and swift water, at the foot of rapids, or 
on a rocky lee shore with a brisk wind, where it 
congregates in search of minnows that are ren- 
dered almost helpless by the churning water. 



1 62 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

Owing to its nocturnal habits, the hours from 
about sunset until dark are the most favorable. 
Night fishing is also quite successful should any 
one care for it. As a matter of experiment I 
fished Pewaukee Lake, in Wisconsin, one moon- 
lit evening in summer, many years ago, in com- 
pany with three other anglers, there being two to 
a boat. In a few hours twenty-two were landed 
to each boat, weighing from three to four pounds 
each. This was my only experience in fishing 
for pike-perch at night, but I have known many 
others to practise it very successfully. 

Fly-fishing is most successful from about sun- 
down until dark, or later, and on cloudy days also 
during the afternoon. Two flies on a four-foot 
leader may be used, one of which should be a 
light-colored one, as the coachman, or white 
miller ; the other may be any of the hackles or the 
stone fly, oriole, gray drake, polka, professor, or 
Montreal. The same instructions concerning fly- 
fishing for black-bass may be profitably followed 
for the pike-perch, allowing the flies to sink two 
or three feet after each cast, though it is a more 
uncertain fish to locate, being much given to 
roaming in its search for food at different 
seasons. 



The Perch Family 163 

Years ago I had fine sport on several occa- 
sions, about sundown, fly-fishing for pike-perch 
from the bridge over Neenah channel, the outlet 
of Lake Winnebago, in Wisconsin. It was really 
the best fishing I have ever had for this fish. 
All the conditions seemed to be just right, and 
they responded eagerly to the coachman and 
oriole at first, but at the approach of dusk they 
preferred the dusty miller and gray hackle. The 
fish averaged three pounds, and in the swift 
water were quite gamy. I have been very 
successful, on many occasions, fly-fishing on the 
Muskingum River, in Ohio, fishing just below 
the dams late in the afternoon ; and also about 
the rocky tow-heads on the upper Ohio River, — 
the fish, however, averaging only about a pound. 
But taking everything into consideration, the 
character of the stream and its surroundings, I 
think I have had the most enjoyable experience 
with the pike-perch, both in fly-fishing and bait- 
fishing, on Rock River, Wisconsin, in the south- 
ern part of the state. It is a beautiful, rocky 
river in places, an ideal stream for wading. The 
fish also were of good size, running up to five or 
six pounds. 

In fishing for pike-perch in different parts of 



1 64 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

the country I have noticed its variableness of 
coloration, which might be inferred from some 
of its names, as gray pike, yellow pike, blue pike, 
white salmon, etc. As I remember them, those 
caught in brackish water in Maryland were quite 
greenish, with silvery reflections and with dark 
markings. On Lake Erie the coloration varies 
somewhat with age, the younger ones being 
known as blue pike, the mature fish as yellow 
pike, and the oldest and largest as gray pike. 
On the rivers of the Middle West that are subject 
to periods of high and muddy water they are 
much paler. On the many pine-fringed lakes in 
northern Wisconsin and Minnesota the variation 
in color is quite apparent, both as to the ground 
color and markings. The older fish are very 
dark and dull on the back, and the younger ones 
much brighter. 

THE SAUGER 

{Stizostedion canadense) 

The sauger was first described by C. H. Smith, 
in 1834, who named it canadensis, from having 
collected his type specimens in Canada. 

It is also known as jack, sand-pike, gray-pike, 
and rattlesnake pike. It is closely related to the 
pike-perch, though smaller and more slender, with 



The Perch Family 165 

a more pointed head and smaller eye. It is dis- 
tributed through the Great Lake region and in 
the upper portions of the Missouri, Mississippi, 
and Ohio rivers. It grows to a length of twelve 
to fifteen inches. Its color is paler than the pike- 
perch, grayish above, with brassy sides, which are 
marked by several blackish blotches or patches, 
hence "rattlesnake pike." 

It is not nearly so good a food-fish as the pike- 
perch, and is not of much importance as a game- 
fish. It may be fished for with the same tackle as 
that recommended for the calico-bass or crappie, in 
the same situations mentioned for the pike-perch. 
I have taken it with a gaudy fly on the Ohio and 
Muskingum rivers, in Ohio, and in the Big Sandy 
and Tygert Creek, in Kentucky ; also by still-fish- 
ing and trolling on Lake Erie about the Bass 
Islands. The meaning or etymology of the name 
" sauger " is unknown. 

THE YELLOW-PERCH 

( Perca flavescens) 

The yellow-perch was first described by Dr. 
Mitchill in 18 14, from the vicinity of New York. 
He named it flavescens, " yellowish," owing to its 
coloration. It is closely allied to the perch of 



1 66 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

Europe. It is commonly known as perch or 
yellow-perch, also as ringed-perch and raccoon- 
perch. It is abundant in the Great Lake region 
and in coastwise streams of the Atlantic slope 
from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. It is also 
common in some of the tributaries of the upper 
Mississippi River and in certain lakes in northern 
Indiana. It is a handsome fish, well propor- 
tioned, and of a lively disposition. It has a 
shapely body, with a depth of about one-third of 
its length, somewhat compressed, and with an 
arching back. The mouth is moderate in size, 
with bands of small, bristlelike teeth, but no ca- 
nines, and has a projecting snout. The head is 
not quite one-third of the length of the body. 
Its back is dark olive, sides bright golden yellow, 
belly pale or pinkish, with half a dozen or more 
broad, dark, vertical bars. The lower fins are 
bright red or orange. While the coloration varies 
somewhat in different situations it is always brill- 
iant, rendering it one of the handsomest fishes 
among the fresh-water species. 

The yellow-perch is gregarious, always in 
schools, and the fish of a school will be about of 
a uniform size, be that great or small. It fre- 
quents waters of a moderate depth in streams or 



The Perch Family 167 

lakes or ponds. In streams, early in the spring, 
it frequently resorts to the edge or foot of riffles, 
when feeding, but later prefers the deeper water 
under mill-dams and about the submerged tim- 
bers of bridges, and the still water under hollow 
banks, or in the eddies of old logs, rocks, etc. It 
is averse to a muddy bottom in fresh water, but 
along the eastern coast it is often found on the 
weedy shoals of shallow bays in brackish water. 
In my boyhood days it was a prime favorite with 
myself and companions. We sought it on the 
mud-flats, among the water-plants, of the Patapsco 
River, near Baltimore. It was there known as 
" yellow Ned," and was considered a good pan-fish. 
In Lake Michigan, after leaving its winter 
quarters in the spring, it fairly swarms about the 
piers and wharves of Chicago and other towns, 
where it is caught by thousands by men, women, 
and children with hand-lines, rods, and dip-nets. 
It is a very predaceous fish and feeds principally 
on small minnows and the young of other fishes, 
also on crawfish, tadpoles, small frogs, insects, etc. 
In large waters it grows to a pound or two in 
weight, sometimes more. Usually it is much 
smaller, a half-pound perch being a good-sized 
fish in most localities. In midsummer, in weedy 



1 68 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

ponds, it is not good ; but at other seasons, or in 
clear, cold water, it is an excellent pan-fish, firm 
and flaky. In brackish water it is good at all 
seasons. Whenever it has a muddy taste, it 
should be skinned, by which the objectionable 
flavor is removed almost entirely, and owing to 
its adherent scales it is the best plan for dressing 
it. It spawns early in the spring, in March and 
April, though in very cold waters not until May. 
The eggs are about twelve to the inch, and are 
held together by a glutinous substance in long, 
ribbonlike masses from two to six feet in length, 
and from an inch to three or four inches wide. 

Light trout tackle, either for bait-fishing or fly- 
fishing, is suitable for the yellow-perch for those 
anglers who can appreciate the pleasure to be 
derived only by the use of appropriate and ele- 
gant tackle for any kind of fishing, and a pound 
perch is well worthy of such implements. With 
a fly-rod of a few ounces, a light click reel, an 
enamelled silk line, and a small leader and flies 
on hooks No. 7, the yellow-perch will not disap- 
point the most exacting angler who has a true 
love for the sport. Under such circumstances it 
is a good game-fish, eager to rise, bold to a de- 
gree, and fights to a finish. 



The Perch Family 169 

Most of the flies used for black-bass, as coach- 
man, polka, oriole, professor. Abbey, etc., are suc- 
cessful, as well as the hackles of various shades, 
and occasionally red ibis and stone fly. The late 
afternoon hours are to be preferred for fly-fish- 
ing. The flies should be allowed to sink with 
each cast, after being fluttered on the surface a 
few seconds. 

In the absence of a more suitable rod, a light 
one of native cane, nine or ten feet long, will do 
good service without a reel. The line should be 
the smallest " sea-grass," or twisted silk. Hooks 
Nos. 5 or 6, on gut snells, with a small brass box- 
swivel for connecting snell and line, make up the 
rest of the tackle. 

The most taking bait is a small minnow, but 
grasshoppers, crickets, white grubs, or earth- 
worms are good. In tidal waters the shrimp is 
preferred. But in the absence of any of these 
baits, cut-bait, either fish or flesh, may be used 
with good results, for the yellow-perch is not 
very particular or fastidious. Large perch are 
also easily taken by trolling with the minnow, 
or a very small spoon on lakes or ponds. If 
the spoon is employed, but a single hook should 
be used, and that not too large. I am not an 



170 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

advocate, however, for trolling for so small a 
fish, and merely mention it as one of the ways 
and means that may be followed. There are 
men who never rise above this method for any 
game-fish, but they are more to be pitied than 
blamed. They either lack the skill to practise 
more approved methods, or are too indolent to 
learn them. 

The yellow-perch has been introduced into 
some waters west of the Rockies. A few weigh- 
ing about a pound were sent to me from a lake 
about forty miles west of Spokane, which were of 
exceptionally bright coloration and good flavor. 
In the same box were two pike of about four 
pounds each, and a large-mouth black-bass of 
eight pounds, dressed, and very fat, plump, and 
delicious. These fish were the result of a sin- 
gle plant by the United States Fish Commission 
some years ago. On the Missouri River, a few 
miles above the Great Falls, a large lake has been 
formed by an expansion of the river, caused by 
building a dam for an electric light plant. Several 
years ago some yellow-perch were placed in this 
lake, or in the river just above it, but by whom 
I have not been able to ascertain. At all events, 
the lake now swarms with perch, strings of one 



The Perch Family 171 

hundred or more not being an uncommon catch 
in a single day, as I am credibly informed. As 
the water above the forks of the Missouri River 
is too cold for the perch, and the water of the 
lake too warm for trout or grayling, there seems 
to be no probability of any harm resulting from 
the introduction of the yellow-perch, though it 
was not a wise thing to do. About the only fish 
in that portion of the Missouri, before the perch 
were planted just above the Great Falls, were 
ling, suckers, and catfish. 

In the many small lakes near Oconomowoc, 
Wisconsin, the yellow-perch thrives well. It is 
caught in the summer by men, women, and chil- 
dren with almost any kind of bait, and often with 
the rudest tackle. To the summer visitors it is 
a source of perennial delight, and an unfailing 
means of enjoyment to the juvenile anglers. In 
my day, Genesee Lake, a few miles from Ocono- 
mowoc, contained some of the largest perch of all 
the numerous lakes and lakelets. In this lake 
only the small-mouth bass and yellow-perch were 
found, no large-mouth bass or pike, and the bass 
and perch were of about the same size — two 
pounds. This uniformity of weight did not 
obtain in any of the other lakes. A basket of 



172 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

perch from Genesee Lake was a handsome sight, 
and the fish were unusually sweet and savory. 
During the winter the residents catch yellow- 
perch through holes cut in the ice in great num- 
bers, in all of the lakes mentioned. It was here 
that I devised my " Oconomowoc " bass fly with 
creamy yellow body, hackle of hairs of deer's tail, 
cinnamon (woodcock) wings, and tail of ginger; 
but for the perch of Genesee I found that with 
a tail of scarlet wool it was more effective. 
Many a two-pound perch responded to that lure, 
in days long gone, and as Thoreau says, " It is a 
true fish, such as the angler loves to put into 
his basket or hang on top of his willow twig on 
shady afternoons." 



CHAPTER VI 

THE GRAYLING FAMILY 
{ThymallidcB) 

Thytnallus signifer. Head 5I; depth 4f; eye 3; D. 24; A. 11; 
scales 8-88 to 90-11; cceca 18; body elongate, compressed, 
highest under the anterior portion of the dorsal ; head rather 
short, subconic, compressed, its upper outline continuous with 
anterior curve of the back ; mouth moderate, the maxillary ex- 
tending to below the middle of the eye ; maxillary 6 (?) in 
head ; jaws about equal ; tongue, in the young, with teeth, 
which are usually absent in the adult ; eye quite large, rather 
longer than snout ; scales moderate ; lateral line nearly straight ; 
a small bare space behind isthmus ; dorsal fin long and high, 
about 3^ in length of body; adipose fin small; anal fin small; 
gill-rakers short and slender, about 12 below the angle. 

Thymallus tricolor. Head 5 ; depth 5^ ; eye 4 ; D. 21 or 22 ; A. 10 ; 
scales 93 to 98 ; gill-rakers 7 + 12 ; maxillary 2| in head ; dorsal 
fin 5 1 in length of body. Otherwise much as T. signifer. 

Thymallus fnoniamis. Head 5; depth 4^; eye 3|; D. 18 to 21; 
A. 10 or II ; scales 8-82 to 85-10; gill-rakers 5 -|- 12; maxil- 
lary 3 in head ; dorsal fin 4^ in length of body. Other features 
much resembling T, signifer and T. tricolor. 

Owing to the restricted area of Its distribu- 
tion, the "graceful, ghding grayhng" is known 
to but comparatively few anglers in America. 
He who has been so fortunate as to have this 
173 



174 ^^^55, Pike, and Percb 

beautiful fish respond to his deftly cast flies, will 
bear me out in the assertion that for courage, 
finesse, and all the qualities that constitute a 
true game-fish, the grayling is the equal of its con- 
gener, the trout. 

In France it is known as ombre, in Germany 
as asche, and in Norway as barren. Among 
all English-speaking people it is the grayling, 
though occasionally it is called umber in parts 
of England. All of these names are somewhat 
descriptive of its grayish, ashy, or bluish colora- 
tion. Gliding along in clear, swift water it 
seems, indeed, a gray shadow ; but fresh out 
of its native element it becomes a creature of 
mother-of-pearl, so beautiful and varied are its 
tints. 

The graceful outlines and beautifully-moulded 
proportions of the grayling, together with the 
satiny sheen and delicate coloration of her adorn- 
ment, have always impressed me as essentially 
feminine. The evanescent play of prismatic 
hues on her shapely and rounded sides, when 
fresh from the pure and crystal stream she loves 
so well, reminds one of changeable silk shot with 
all the colors of the rainbow. Her tall dorsal 
fin, with its rose-colored spots, she waves as 




THE ARCTIC GRAYLING 
Thymallus signifer 




THE MICHIGAN GRAYLING 
Thymallus tricolor 




THE MONTANA GRAYLING 
Thymallus montams 



The Grayling Family 175 

gracefully and effectually as the nodding plume 
of a duchess. 

The grayling was named by the ancients 
T/iymalhis, owing to a smell of thyme that was 
said to emanate from the fish when freshly 
caught. However that may have been in days 
of old, it is not so now, though an odor of 
cucumbers is sometimes perceptible when it is 
just out of the water. But the name, if not the 
odor, has endured to the present day, for Thy- 
mallus is still its generic appellation. The gray- 
lings were formerly included in the salmon 
family, and are still so considered by European 
ichthyologists, who include them in the genus 
Salmo. Dr. Theodore Gill, however, has formed 
them into a separate family {Thymallidce), owing 
to the peculiar structure of the skull, whereby 
the parietal bones meet at the median line, 
excluding the frontal bones from the supra- 
occipital ; whereas in the other salmonids the 
parietals are separated by the intervention of 
the supra-occipital bone, which connects with 
the frontals. 

There are three species in America: one in 
the Arctic regions, one in Michigan, and one 
in Montana. To the untrained eye no great 



76 



Bass, Pike, and Percb 



difference is apparent between these various 
species as to form and coloration,^ and their 
habits are similar, all lovins; clear, cold, and swift 
water, with gravelly or sandy bottom. They 
feed on insects and their larvae, small minnows, 
crustaceans, and such small organisms. They 
spawn in the spring. The eggs are smaller than 
trout eggs, running seven to the inch. They 
hatch in from ten days to two weeks, according 
to temperature of the water. 

THE ARCTIC GRAYLING 

( Thytnalltis signifer) 

The Arctic grayling was first described by 
Sir John Richardson, in 1823, from specimens 

1 SPECIFIC CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE 
GRAYLINGS 





T. signifer 


T. tricolor 


T. montanus 


Head in length 


s\ 


5 


5 


Depth in length 


4f 


S\ 


M 


Eye in head 


3 


4 


l\ 


Maxillary in head 


6(?) 


A 


3 


Scales 


8-88 to 90-1 1 


93-98 


8-82 to 85-10 


Gill-rakers 


12 below the angle 


7 + 12 


5 + 12 


Dorsal rays 


20-24 


21-22 


18-21 


Height of dorsal fin 


3^ in length 


5| in length 


\\ in length 



The Grayling Family 177 

collected at Winter Lake, near Fort Enterprise, 
in British America. He named it signifer, or 
" standard-bearer," in allusion to its tall, waving, 
gayly-colored dorsal fin. It is presumably the 
oldest and original species, and it is not unlikely 
that it was transported to Michigan and Mon- 
tana on an ice-field during the glacial period. 
It is often called Bach's grayling, in honor of 
an officer of that name who took the first one 
on the fly, when with the Arctic expedition of 
Sir John Franklin, in 1819. It abounds in clear, 
cold streams of the Mackenzie and Yukon prov- 
inces in British America, and in Alaska up to 
the Arctic Ocean. This boreal grayling has a 
somewhat smaller head than the other species, 
its upper outline being continuous with the 
curve of the back. The mouth is small, extend- 
ing to below the middle of the eye, which latter 
is larger than in the other graylings, while its 
dorsal fin is both longer and higher, and contains 
a few more rays. The sides are purplish gray, 
darker on the back; head brownish, a blue 
mark on each side of the lower jaw; the dorsal 
fins dark gray, splashed with a lighter shade, 
with rows of deep blue spots edged with red; 
ventral fins with red and white stripes. Along 



178 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

the sides are scattered a few irregularly-shaped 
black spots. 

A friend of mine, an ardent angler, returned 
recently from Cape Nome and the Yukon, in 
Alaska, where he resided for several years. He 
informed me that the grayling is very abundant 
in the streams of that region, and that he had 
taken thousands on the fly ; but not knowing 
that they differed from the Montana grayling, he 
did not examine them closely. 

THE MICHIGAN GRAYLING 

( Thymallus tricolor) 

The Michigan grayling was first described by 
Professor E. D. Cope, in 1865, from specimens 
from the Au Sable River. He named it tricolor, 
on account of its handsomely-decorated fins and 
body. At that time it was abundant in the Au 
Sable, Manistee, Marquette, Jordan, Pigeon, and 
other rivers in the northern part of the lower pen- 
insula of Michigan, and in Otter Creek, near 
Keweenah, in the upper peninsula. It has a some- 
what larger head than the Arctic form, its length 
being about one-fifth of the length of the body ; 
the outline of the latter does not differ except 
in not being so prominent over the shoulder. 



The Grayling Family 179 

The coloration is purplish gray with silvery 
reflections, darker on the back, belly white and 
iridescent ; sides of head with bright bluish and 
bronze lustre; sides of the body with small, 
black, irregular spots; ventral fins with oblique, 
rose-colored lines ; dorsal with alternate dusky 
and rose-colored lines below, and alternate rows 
of dusky green and roseate spots above ; caudal 
fin dusky with a middle roseate stripe. 

In 1870-1876 I visited most of the grayling 
streams in Michigan, and found it abundant, 
affording fine fishing. At that time it was 
also in the Boyne, and in Pine Lake and River. 
I also took it in Lake Michigan while fishing 
for cisco from the pier at Charlevoix. Fish 
running from a pound to a pound and a half 
were common, and occasionally one of two 
pounds was taken. 

It is sad to contemplate the gradual disap- 
pearance of this fish from the once densely 
populated streams of Michigan. At the present 
day the angler is fortunate, indeed, who succeeds 
in taking a brace of grayling where a few years 
ago his basket was soon filled. This deplorable 
state of affairs has been brought about by the 
axe of the lumberman, whose logs, descending 



i8o Bass, Pike, and Percb 

the small streams on the spring rise, plough 
up the spawning beds, smothering the eggs and 
killing the helpless fry. As brook-trout spawn 
in the fall they escape this calamity, the fry 
being old enough in April to take pretty good 
care of themselves. The decrease of both trout 
and grayling is commonly attributed to over- 
fishing; but while this may have its influence 
to a limited extent in lessening the numbers for 
a season, other causes must be looked for to 
account for the permanent depletion of certain 
waters. 

A stream or pond will support but a 
limited number of fish, the number depending 
on the supply of natural food for both young 
and mature. By the supply of food on one 
hand, and the natural enemies of the fish on 
the other, a certain balance is maintained which 
if disturbed by, say, overfishing one season, 
will be restored by natural laws the next. And 
this state of affairs will continue so long as the 
natural conditions of the waters remain un- 
disturbed. 

By cutting down the pine trees at the sources 
of the streams and along the small tributaries, 
which are the spawning grounds of bt)th trout 



The Grayling Family i8i 

and grayling, the natural conditions are changed. 
The scorching rays of the summer sun are 
admitted where once mosses and ferns and the 
trailing arbutus luxuriated in the shade of a 
dense growth of pines and hemlocks and firs. 
The soil becomes dry, the carpet of green 
shrivels and dies, and the myriads of insects 
that once bred and multiplied in the cool and 
grateful shade, and whose larva} furnish the food 
for the baby fish, disappear. The brooks and 
rivulets diminish and vanisli. A page has been 
torn from the book of nature, and the place 
that trout and grayling knew so well is known 
no more forever. 

THE MONTANA GRAYLING 

( Thyinnllus vtontanus) 

The Montana grayling was collected by Pro- 
fessor James W. Milner, of the United States Fish 
Commission, in 1872, from a tributary of the 
Missouri Kiver, at Camj) Baker, in Montana. He 
named it moutamis, from the name of the state. 
Lewis and Clark, however, during their wonderful 
journey that blazed the western course of empire, 
described, but did not name it, seventy years 
before, from fish taken near the head waters of 



1 82 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

the Jefferson River. A few years ago (1898) 
it was my good fortune to be the first to call 
attention to this prior description. Knowing that 
Lewis and Clark ascended the Jefferson nearly 
to its source in the Rocky Mountains, in 1805, I 
thought it extremely probable that those remark- 
ably close observers had mentioned the existence 
of this beautiful and well-marked species. Upon 
investigation I found my surmise to be correct. 
On page 545 of Dr. Elliott Coues's edition (1893) 
of " The Lewis and Clark Expedition," I found 
the following : — 

" Toward evening we formed a drag of bushes, 
and in about two hours caught 528 very good 
fish, most of them large trout. Among them we 
observed for the first time ten or twelve trout of 
a white or silvery color, except on the back and 
head, where they are of a bluish cast ; in appear- 
ance and shape they resemble exactly the 
speckled trout, except they are not so large, 
though the scales are much larger ; the flavor is 
equally good." (In a foot-note Dr. Coues stated 
that this fish remained unidentified.) 

The locality where these fish were taken was 
near the head waters of the Jefferson River, where 
Lewis and Clark abandoned their canoes and 



The Grayling Family 183 

crossed the Continental Divide on horses pur- 
chased from the Indians. At this point the gray- 
ling is abundant to-day, as I know from personal 
observation, and coexists with the red-throat trout 
almost to the exclusion of all other species. 

Lewis and Clark were both remarkable for 
clear and correct descriptions of the animals and 
plants met with during their journey, many of 
which were new to science ; but as they neglected 
to give them scientific names, others have reaped 
the honors of many of their discoveries. I pub- 
lished my identification of the fish in question as 
being undoubtedly the grayling, and soon after- 
ward received a letter from Dr. Coues, congratulat- 
ing me and indorsing my opinion, which he said 
was certainly correct. 

The Montana grayling is found only in the 
tributaries of the Missouri River above the Great 
Falls. In Sheep and Tenderfoot creeks, tribu- 
taries of Smith River, in the Little Belt Moun- 
tains, it is fairly abundant, as it is likewise in the 
three forks of the Missouri, — the Gallatin, Madi- 
son, and Jefferson rivers. Its ideal home is in 
several tributaries at the head of Red Rock Lake, 
swift gravelly streams, and especially in the upper 
reaches of the Madison above the upper canon, 



1 84 Bass, Pilu\ and Pcrcb 

where tlie water is rapid, llioiigh unbroken, the 
bottom being dark obsidian sand, with a succession 
of pools and shallcnvs. I liave taken fish weigh- 
ing two pounds in Beaver Creek, in the upper 
canon, which is also an ideal stream. Such sit- 
uations are peculiarly adapted to the grayling, 
being preferred to the broken water of rocky 
streams so much favored by trout. 

The Montana grayling is a trimmer-built fish 
than its Michigan cousin, being not quite so 
deep, proportionally, and with larger scales. Its 
dorsal fin is about the same height, but with one 
or two less rays. 

Its back is gray, with purplish reflections; sides 
lighter, with lilac, pink, and silvery reflections ; 
belly pearly white. It has a few irregularly- 
shaped black spots on the anterior part of the 
body, but none posteriorly as sometimes on the 
Michigan grayling. It has two oblong dark 
blotches in the cleft of the lower jaw, and a heavy 
dark line running from the ventrals to the pectoral 
fin ; these markings are more pronounced in the 
male, being quite faint or wanting in the female. 
The dorsal fin has a rosy-red border, six or seven 
rows of roseate, roundish spots, ocellated with 
white, and gray blotches form lines between the 



The Grayling Family 185 

rows of red spots ; in the upper, posterior angle 
of the dorsal fin are several larger oblong rosy 
spots; the ventral fins have three rose-colored 
stripes along the rays ; the pectoral and anal fins 
are plain ; the caudal fin is forked. 

As a game-fish the grayling is fully the equal 
of the trout, though its way of taking the artificial 
fly is quite different, and the old hand at trout 
fishing must pay court to *' the lady of the 
streams " with the greatest assiduity before he is 
successful in winning her attention to his lures. 
And even then he must become fully conversant 
with her coy and coquettish way of accepting his 
offer, though it be cast never so deftly. There 
is a rush and snap and vim in the rise of a trout 
to the fly that is lacking with the grayling. The 
trout often leaps above the water to seize the fly, 
while it is taken more quietly and deliberately, 
though just as eagerly, by the grayling from 
below. In other words, it is " sucked in," as 
English anglers term it, though that hardly ex- 
presses it, as the act is not so tame as might be 
inferred. On the contrary, the grayling rises 
from the bottom of a pool and darts upward like 
an arrow to seize the fly, though as a rule it does 
not break water, and is not so demonstrative as 



1 86 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

the trout; but it seldom misses the mark, if 
the fly is small enough, which the trout often 
does. 

Sometimes the grayling will rise a dozen times 
to a fly, and for some reason refuse it, but will 
take it at the very next cast. Just why this is so 
is one of the unanswerable problems that often 
vexes or confounds the angler. Presumably the 
fly is too large, or is not presented in just the 
right way to please her ladyship. But the angler 
should not despair under such circumstances, but 
remember the old couplet, " If at first you don't 
succeed, try, try again." Moreover, he must re- 
member that he is fishing for grayling, not for 
trout. He must not cast on a riffle, or at its 
head, but below, in the eddy or still water, where 
it is deepest. There lie the large fish, though 
small ones may be in the shallower water, and 
it is the latter that perplex one by their antics, 
oftentimes leaping over one's flies in play. 

Trout generally lie in ambush beneath the 
bank, shelving rocks, or roots, usually in shallow 
water, from whence they rush with tigerlike feroc- 
ity upon the fly, often leaping over it in their 
eagerness for the fancied prey. On the contrary, 
grayling lie on the bottom of pools, in swift 



The Grayling Family 187 

water, entirely in the open. They are also gre- 
garious, assembling in schools, while the trout is 
a lone watcher from his hidden lair. 

Some dry fly-fishers of England, echoing the 
opinion of Charles Cotton, term the grayling a 
" dead-hearted fish " that must be taken with a 
wet or sunken fly. This idea of its lack of game- 
ness is implied in Tennyson's lines : — 

" Here and there a lusty trout, 
And here and there a grayhng." 

As the English grayling grows only to half of 
the weight of the trout, it suffers by comparison 
when killed on the heavy rods of our English 
brothers. Their assertion, also, that the grayling 
has a tender mouth, and must be handled gin- 
gerly, is another fallacy, inasmuch as it has as 
tough lips as the trout, but the smaller hooks of 
grayling flies do not hold so firmly as the larger 
and stronger hooks of trout flies. 

It must not be supposed that the grayling is 
not a leaping fish because it takes the fly from 
beneath the surface of the water. On the con- 
trary, in its playful moods it may be seen leaping 
above the surface the same as a trout, and more- 
over it breaks water repeatedly after being hooked, 



1 88 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

which the trout seldom does. It puts up a stiff 
fight also beneath the surface, being much aided 
in its resistance by its tall dorsal fin. It is no 
disparagement, then, to the gamesome trout, to 
declare the grayling its equal when of similar 
size and weight. 

Grayling fishing has been practised in England 
for centuries. In addition to fly-fishing, swim- 
ming the maggot, where a tiny float is used, is 
a common method. An artificial bait, called the 
grasshopper, is likewise employed. While gray- 
ling are taken during the trout season, in spring 
and summer, the most successful season seems to 
be from September to December, when they are 
at their best, both as to gameness and condition. 

With English anglers the universal practice is 
to fish up-stream, as the fish are not so apt to see 
the angler, and that plan undoubtedly has its 
advantages in the clear and shallow streams of 
England. In fishing for grayling, however, it is 
advised by some of their best anglers to cast 
across the stream, instead of above, and allow the 
flies to float down. No reason is given for this 
deviation from the generally accepted method 
with trout; but I imagine that as grayling lie on 
the bottom of deep pools, it has been found by 



The Grayling Family 189 

experience that they are not so apt to see the 
angler as other species in mid-water or near the 
surface, especially in the clear chalk streams. 

In America, the streams being deeper, the ne- 
cessity for fishing up-stream is not so apparent. 
Fishing down-stream is by far the best plan, for 
obvious reasons, if the angler wades slowly and 
cautiously, so as not to roil the water. The prin- 
cipal reason is that one's line is always straight 
and taut in swift water, and the flies can be more 
easily controlled and floated down over the fish, 
which always heads up-stream. Upon hooking 
the fish it can be drawn to one side, whereby the 
other fish in the pool are not much more alarmed 
than in the case of casting up or across. Casting 
across seems to be really a concession to the 
advantage of fishing down-stream. 

The fly-rod, reel, line, and leader ordinarily 
employed for trout-fishing may be used also for 
grayling, though I would advise some modifica- 
tions. While a first-class split-bamboo rod of 
three and a half or four ounces may be advanta- 
geously used by an angler who knows how to handle 
a very light rod, I prefer one of five or six ounces. 
Such a rod is certainly light enough to be used 
all day without fatigue, and it is well to have the 



iQo Bass, Pike, and Perch 

resourceful reserve of an ounce or two for emer- 
gencies. In any case it should not exceed ten 
and one-half feet in length, if built on the modern 
plan, where most of the pliancy is in its upper 
two-thirds, the lower third being stififish and 
springy, constituting its backbone. A very good 
rod can be constructed with ash butt, and lance- 
wood, greenheart, or bethabara upper pieces, and 
one that will be almost as light as split-bamboo, 
and certainly more serviceable in the long run. 
I would also advise flush, non-dowelled joints, 
and reel-bands instead of a solid reel-seat, the lat- 
ter being of no advantage and only adding to the 
weight of the rod; moreover, it is now put on 
the cheapest rods to make them sell. A plain 
groove for the reel, with bands, is very much better. 

As a matter of course the line should be of 
braided silk, enamelled, and suited to the weight 
of the rod, as small as size G, but not larger than 
size E. It may be level, but a tapered line is 
better for casting, and is also better adapted for 
the delicate leader that must be employed. 

A tapered leader six feet long is best, but 
should not be shorter than four feet. It must be 
made of the very best silkworm gut fibre, round, 
clear, and unstained. The distal end should be 



The Grayling Family 191 

made of the finest drawn gut, known as gossamer, 
and taper to the larger or proximal end, which 
should be the smallest undrawn gut. 

In England the most delicate leaders and ex- 
tremely small flies are employed for grayling. 
The flies are usually tied on Pennell hooks, turn- 
down eye, sizes o, 00, 000, Kendal scale, which 
are smaller than No. 12, Redditch scale, the latter 
being the smallest size commonly used in Amer- 
ica. The favorite flies in England have yellowish 
— lemon to orange — bodies, and bodies of pea- 
cock harl, either green or bronze. Flies with 
purplish, black, or slate-colored bodies are more 
sparingly employed. They are either hackles or 
split-winged flies. The formulas for some of the 
favorites are as follows: — 



Red Tag. Body bright green harl from the " moon " of a peacock's 
feather ; hackle, bright red cock's hackle ; tag, bright red wool ; 
hook, No. o, Kendal scale. 

Orange Bufnble. Body, orange floss silk, ribbed with a strand of 
peacock's sword feather and fine flat gold tinsel ; hackle, honey 
dun cock, wrapped all down the body ; hook No. o, Kendal 
scale. 

Green Insect. Body, bright green peacock's harl ; hackled with a 
soft silver-gray hen's feather ; hook No. o, Kendal scale. 

Bradshaw's Fancy. Body, copper-colored peacock's harl ; hackled 
with a feather from the neck of a Norwegian crow ; tag, bright 
crimson wool or silk, with a couple of turns of the same at the 
head ; tying silk, dark purple ; hook No. o, Kendal scale. 



192 Bass, Pike, aitd Perch 

Claret Bumble. Body, claret floss silk, ribbed with a strand of pea- 
cock's sword feather ; medium blue dun cock's hackle ; hook, 
No. o, Kendal scale. 



Most of the foregoing are fancy flies, but are 
considered the best killers on English waters. In 
this country it has been demonstrated, also, that 
flies with bodies of peacock harl, or with yellow- 
ish bodies, have been more uniformly successful 
than others. From this it would appear that the 
predilection of grayling for certain colors in arti- 
ficial flies is much the same both in this country 
and England. From my own experience I can 
recommend the following well-known flies, adding, 
however, that their construction should be a little 
different from the conventional trout flies of these 
names in having a red tag or tail of scarlet 
wool, instead of the usual tail, and in having nar- 
row split wings instead of the regular style of 
full wings: — 

Yellowish-bodied flies : professor, queen of the 
water, Oconomowoc, Lord Baltimore. Green- 
bodied flies : coachman, Henshall,and grizzly king. 
Other useful flies are black gnat, cinnamon, iron- 
blue dun, oriole, red ant, gray hackle, and black 
hackle. They should all be tied on Sproat or 
O'Shaughnessy hooks, No. 12, Redditch or com- 



The Grayling Family 193 

mon scale. Two flies only should be used in a 
cast, and of different colors. 

Bearing in mind that the portions of a stream 
mostly used by grayling are the sandy and grav- 
elly pools in swift, smooth water, they are fished 
for in much the same way as trout, except that 
the flies are allowed to sink below the surface, 
very much as in black-bass fishing. It is very 
important that the line and leader are always taut, 
inasmuch as the rise of the fish is not always seen, 
except as a quick flash or shadow beneath the 
surface. With a tight line the fish will be more 
apt to hook itself. With the small hooks of gray- 
ling flies, it is not wise for the angler to attempt 
to " strike," as in trout or black-bass fishing. 

Upon hooking the fish it should be led sidewise 
from the pool, if possible, so as not to disturb or 
frighten the others of the school ; and for the 
same reason it should be kept near the surface 
until taken into the landing-net. 

Either a light trout bait-rod or the fly-rod may 
be employed for bait-fishing for grayling, with 
fine silk line, leader, and hooks Nos. 6 to 8 with 
a split-shot sinker a foot above the hook. Eng- 
lish anglers use a small float, but in fishing down- 
stream it is not advisable, as the current prevents 



194 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

the bait from touching the bottom, and renders 
the use of a float for this purpose unnecessary. 
The bait should be kept from six inches to a foot 
above the bottom. The best bait is the larva of 
the caddis-fly, a small worm or caterpillar encased 
in a bag or covering composed of bits of bark, 
sticks, etc. ; it is known in the Rocky Mountain 
region as the " rockworm." Earthworms, small 
grasshoppers, crickets, and grubs of various kinds 
are also useful. 

When it became known to iishculturists, about 
1874, that the grayling existed in Michigan, 
attempts were made to propagate it artificially, 
but without success, as the same lines were 
pursued as with the brook-trout. It remained for 
the United States Fish Commission to success- 
fully cope with the problem in Montana, under 
my supervision. Beginning with 1898, we have 
hatched millions at Bozeman Station and the 
auxiliary station near Red Rock Lake, at the 
head of the Jef¥erson River. We have also 
shipped millions of eggs to different parts of the 
Union, as far east as Maine, New Hampshire, and 
Vermont, mostly to United States Fish Commis- 
sion stations, where they were hatched and planted 
in suitable streams. It is to be hoped that some 



The Grayling Family 195 

of these plants will result in the permanent 
establishment of this beautiful and desirable fish 
in eastern waters. 

The eggs of the grayling are smaller than those 
of the trout, being but one-seventh of an inch in 
diameter. When first extruded they are amber- 
colored, owing to a large oil-drop, which renders 
them lighter than trout eggs, almost semi-buoyant, 
and for this reason are best hatched, or at least 
"eyed," in hatching jars. My plan is to keep 
them in the hatching jars until the eye-spots show, 
when they are removed to hatching-trays until 
incubation is complete. 

In a few days after extrusion the eggs become 
crystal-like or hyaline in color, when the embryo 
can be seen in motion. The period of incubation 
is from ten days to two weeks. The fry when 
hatched are very small, about the size of mosquito 
" wigglers " (larvae). Their umbilical yolk-sac is 
absorbed in a few days, when it becomes impera^ 
tive to supply them with stream water, which 
contains the small organisms {Eniomostraca) on 
which they feed at first. Afterward they can be 
fed artificially the same as trout fry, which they 
soon outgrow. 

There is an erroneous opinion that has gained 



196 Bass, Pike, and Pcrcb 

considerable currency among anglers to the 
effect that grayling and trout are antagonistic, 
and that to this cause is to be attributed the 
decrease of grayling in the waters of Michigan. 
My observations have led me to the conclusion 
that this opinion is not supported by any evidence 
whatever. When I fished the streams of that 
state, years ago, both trout and grayling were 
plentiful in the same waters, and were living in 
harmony as they had done from time immemorial. 
Their habits and choice of locality being different, 
the trout hiding under cover and the grayling 
lying in exposed pools, their struggle for exist- 
ence or supremacy does not bring them much in 
opposition, or cause them to prey on each other 
or on their eggs or fry in an unusual degree, or 
to such an extent as to effect the marked decrease 
of either species. Honors are even. It is the 
same in Montana. In that state the red-throat 
trout and grayling seek out such portions of the 
streams as are best suited to them; but very often 
they are found together on neutral ground, w^iere 
they live peaceably and not at variance with each 
other. As no disturbing element has yet been intro- 
duced, their numbers still bear the same relative 
proportion that has existed since the days of yore. 



The Grayling Family 197 

Likewise in England, in such historic waters 
as the Wye, the Derwent, the Wharfe, or the 
Dove, hallowed by " meek Walton's heavenly 
memory," the grayling and trout still coexist in 
about the same relative proportion that has been 
maintained since and before the days of Dame 
Juliana Berners, Izaak Walton, and Charles 
Cotton in the fifteenth century. On those 
quiet streams no cause has ever been allowed 
to militate against the well-being of either 
species, or to disturb the natural conditions to 
any considerable extent. 

In a recent number of the London Fishi7ig 
Gazette is one of the best articles on the English 
grayling that I have ever seen. It is written by 
Mr. E. F. Goodwin, who is undoubtedly fully 
conversant with his theme and well acquainted 
with the habits of that fish. Among other things 
he says : — 

" When in season I maintain that the grayling 
will give excellent sport on suitable tackle, is 
splendid eating, and is as handsome a fish as 
any angler need wish to gaze upon. What more 
can one want } How Charles Cotton could have 
written in such terms of condemnation of the 
sporting qualities of this fish as to call him ' one 



198 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

of the deadest-hearted fishes in the world, and 
the bigger he is the more easily taken,' passes 
my understanding, although we must remember 
that this remark was passed to * Viator ' on his 
catching a grayling in the early part of March, 
when the fish would be out of condition in all 
probability. I confess to a feeling of disappoint- 
ment at the summary way in which Walton dis- 
misses the grayling, showing that he did not 
think very highly of him either from an edible 
or sporting point of view. 

" Grayling will rise readily to the artificial fly, 
and although they will come again time after 
time if missed (or perhaps I should say if they 
miss the fly, which is more usual), they require 
the neatest and finest tackle and the most deli- 
cate handling to secure them ; and as Francis 
Francis truly says, 'when you have hooked a 
grayling, your next job is to land him.' . . . 
There is a lot of difference between the way a 
well-conditioned trout and grayling fight after 
being hooked, and this may account for some 
of the condemnation heaped upon the latter as 
to its non-sportive character ; for although not so 
lively as the trout with its mad rushes for liberty, 
yet the kind of resistance is more dangerous to 



The Grayling Family 199 

the hold you have on him, for the grayling tries 
the hold of the hook in every possible way, and 
from every possible point of that hold. To my 
mind a grayling is much more difficult to 
land than a trout, and the more I fish for 
grayling the more convinced I am of his game- 
ness and sporting qualities. Certainly there are 
a great many more grayling lost after being 
hooked than trout, and this is accounted for prin- 
cipally not so much from the reputed tenderness 
of the mouth as from the fact of the fish not 
being so firmly hooked as the trout usually is. 
" The ideas of grayling not heading up-stream 
and of being deleterious to the trout have been 
perpetuated by author after author, just copying 
one another without really ascertaining the facts. 
. . . As regards the advisability of introducing 
grayling into a trout stream, that depends en- 
tirely upon the nature of the river. As far as 
my experience and observation go, grayling only 
become detrimental to the trout in that, being 
active and voracious feeders, they consume the 
food that otherwise would have belonged to and 
been partaken of by the trout. It is certain that 
these fish live together in general amity. The 
grayling is but seldom a fish eater, and therefore 



200 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

any accusation as to its being destructive to the 
fry of trout is untenable. That it, in the trout- 
spawning season, may help itself to what it can 
find of the superfluous ova which float down the 
stream no one can object to, but as to its burrow- 
ing in the redds and disturbing the hatching ova, 
I very much doubt it. Both the late Dr. Brunton 
and Dr. Hamilton were very strong in their 
assertion that this was a matter of impossibility 
with the grayling, and yet we are assured by 
Dr. James A. Henshall that the fry of grayling 
are as much addicted to cannibalism as the pike- 
perch fry." 

After giving a brief space to natural bait- 
fishing, he goes on to say : " But after all there 
is only one way in which this fish should be 
caught, and that is with the fly. This ground 
has been gone over so many times that it only 
remains for me to say that, the grayling being 
a bold and daring riser, never be discouraged 
if you fail to hook him, even if he rise at your 
fly time after time. He lies very low in the river 
when watching for his prey, and therefore is not 
so easily disturbed ; and if you remain quite still 
when he has risen and missed the fly and gone 
down to his lair, he will surely rise again. His 




THE MORE SPORTSMANLY WAY OF CATCHING 
MASCALONGE 



The Grayling Family 201 

rise, too, is different to a trout. A trout, from 
lying close to the surface when feeding, takes 
without effort the flies floating over him, and also 
is easily scared. A grayling, from lying deep 
in the water, quite close to the bottom, comes up 
with great rapidity, and seldom takes the fly 
until it has passed him ; and should he miss it, 
which often happens, disappears so quickly that 
he may well be compared to a shadow — hence 
the name of 'umber,' from umbra, a shadow. 
Should you hook him, up goes his great dorsal 
fin and down goes his head in his determination 
to get to his hiding-place, and it depends on 
his size and gameness, as well as the skill of 
the angler, whether he succeeds or not. I have 
often heard anglers complain that grayling are 
more dif^cult to hook than trout. Experienced 
anglers are all aware that grayling are not so 
easily hooked on the rise as trout, but he offers 
the best compensation in his power by consenting 
to rise over and over again until if you do not 
hook him the fault is yours, not his. When he 
rises at a passing fly he must ascend at lightning 
speed in order to cover the distance in time to 
catch it; having done so, he turns instantly head 
down and descends at the same speed. This is 



202 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

really the 'somersault' so well known to grayling 
fishers. With a long line it is next to impossible 
to strike a grayling on the instant, and a taut 
line in this fishing is of even greater importance 
than in trout-fishing." 

I have given the above liberal quotations be- 
cause the article agrees so well with my own 
practice in grayling fishing, and accords with the 
habits of the American graylings as I have ob- 
served them. 



CHAPTER VII 

THE SALMON FAMILY 
{Salnionid<s) 

This is quite an extensive family, embracing 
the salmons, trouts, and whitefishes, and is char- 
acterized principally by an adipose fin and small, 
smooth scales. It is my province to consider 
only the Rocky Mountain whitefish and the cisco, 
as the salmons and trouts are described in an- 
other volume of this series. There are a number 
of whitefishes, but none of them can be con- 
sidered game-fishes except the one about to be 
described, as they rarely or never take the fly or 
bait. 

Coregonus •williamsoni. Rocky Mountain Whitefish. Head 4| to 
5 ; depth 4 to 5 ; eye 4I ; D. 1 1 to 14 ; A. n to 13 ; scales 8 to 
10-83 to 87-7 to 10; body oblong, little compressed; head 
short, conic, the profile rather abruptly decurved ; snout com- 
pressed and somewhat pointed at tip, which is below the level 
of the eye ; preorbital broad, f the width of the eye ; maxillary 
short and very broad, reaching to the anterior margin of eye, 
and is contained 4 times in length of head ; mandible 3 times ; 
gill-rakers short and thick, 9+15; pectoral fin i^ in head; 
ventral 1 1 ; adipose fin large, extending behind the anal fin. 
203 



204 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

Coregonus williamsoni cis-montamis. Montana Whitefish. Head 5; 
depth 5 to 5I; pectoral fin iMn head; ventral \\\ scales 90. 
Otherwise like the typical form. 

Argyrosotnus artedi sisco. Cisco. Head 4 to 5 ; depth 4 to 4| ; 
eye 4 to 5; D. 10; A. 12; scales 8-65 to 80-8; body long, 
slender and somewhat compressed ; head long, pointed and com- 
pressed ; mouth large, lower jaw somewhat projecting, maxillary 
reaching to pupil ; mandible 2\ in head ; dorsal fin high, its 
rays rapidly shortened ; caudal fin forked. 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN WHITEFISH 

{Coregofius ivilliamsoni) 

This fine fish was first described from the Des 
Chutes River in Oregon by Dr. Charles Girard 
in 1856, who described most of the fishes col- 
lected during the Pacific Railroad Survey, and 
named the one under consideration in honor of 
Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, who had charge of 
one of the divisions of the Survey. 

Its general form is not unlike that of the gray- 
ling, which has led to the absurd opinion, held by 
some, that the grayling is a hybrid, or cross, be- 
tween this whitefish and the red-throat trout, its 
body being rather long, nearly elliptical in outline, 
and somewhat compressed. It is found in the 
clear streams on both slopes of the Rocky Moun- 
tains, and on both sides of the Cascade Range. In 
the tributaries of the Missouri River in Montana 
it differs slightly from the typical form, and is 



The Salmon Family 205 

known as the variety cis-montanus. It is bluish 
or greenish on the back, sides silvery, belly white. 
All of the fins are tipped with black ; caudal and 
adipose fins are steel-blue. 

I know this fish only from the streams of Mon- 
tana, where it coexists with the red-throat trout and 
grayling. It spawns in the fall. It feeds on in- 
sects and their larvae, small crustaceans, and the 
eggs of other fishes. It grows to about a foot in 
length, usually, and to a pound in weight, though 
I have taken much larger specimens. It is a 
very fair food-fish, — as good, I think, as the 
red-throat trout, as its flesh is firmer and flaky, 
and devoid of any muddy or musky flavor. 

It rises to the artificial fly as readily as the 
trout or grayling, and to the same flies, though a 
little more partial to small, dark, or grayish ones, 
as black, brown, and gray hackles, black gnat, 
oriole, gray drake, etc. When the streams are 
higher and not so clear, lighter-colored flies are 
useful, as professor, coachman, Henshall, miller, 
etc. Light trout fly-rods and tackle are used 
both for fly- and bait-fishing by Rocky Mountain 
anglers, — the bait, when used, being the larva of 
the caddis-fly, and known as " rockworm." Grass- 
hoppers are employed in the late summer and 



2o6 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

fall. Fly-fishing, however, is the most successful 
method. 

Large baskets of whitefish are made in the 
three forks of the Missouri River, especially in 
the lower Gallatin River, where it is taken with 
the grayling, the red-throat trout not being so 
plentiful in that part of the stream. The tribu- 
taries of this river are also well supplied with 
whitefish. Bridger Creek, one of the tributaries 
of East Gallatin River, has some large whitefish. 
I have taken them in that stream up to two 
pounds ; for gameness they were equal to trout of 
the same weight, and just as good for the table. 
They are at their best in the early fall months, 
before spawning, when they are fat and in fine 
fettle. At this season they must be looked for in 
deep holes, especially in August and September, 
when they are gregarious, and one's basket may 
be filled from a single hole when of considerable 
extent. Later they depart for the shallows and 
pair off for spawning, when they seldom rise to 
the fly. 

There is a sentiment among trout fishers, 
and among people generally in a trout region, 
that no other fish is quite so good to eat, or pos- 
sessed of as much gameness, as the trout. While 



The Salmon Family 207 

I concede beauty of form and coloration to the 
trout, far excelling all other fresh-water fishes, 
there are others equally as good for the table, 
or even better. When camping by mountain 
streams, freshly-caught trout, fried to crispness 
in bacon fat, has a happy combined trout-bacon 
flavor that is certainly delicious, especially when 
one has the sauce of a camping appetite to favor 
it; but under similar conditions the mountain 
whitefish, in my opinion, is fully as good. Nine 
out of ten persons who are prejudiced in favor of 
the trout will declare that it has no scales, thus 
showing a lack of comparison and observation. 
In the Rocky Mountain region, where there are 
so few species of fish for the angler, usually 
only trout, grayling, and whitefish, the latter 
should be better appreciated. 

THE CISCO 

{Argyrosonms artedi siscd) 

The cisco, or so-called "lake-herring," was first 
described by the French ichthyologist, Le Sueur, 
in 18 18, from Lake Erie and the Niagara River. 
He named it in honor of Petrus Artedi, the asso- 
ciate of Linnaeus, and the " Father of Ichthy- 
ology." The variety sisco was described and 



2o8 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

named by Dr. David Starr Jordan, in 1875, from 
Lake Tippecanoe, Indiana. It was for a long 
time supposed to exist only in Lake Geneva, 
Wisconsin, except in the Great Lakes, and an 
absurd opinion was prevalent that there was an 
underground communication between that lake and 
Lake Superior by which the cisco entered it. 
Soon after Dr. Jordan had discovered it in Tip- 
pecanoe Lake I found it in several lakes in Wis- 
consin, as La Belle, Oconomowoc, and Okauchee. 
The cisco is somewhat smaller than the lake- 
herring, but otherwise it is about the same. It is 
almost elliptical in outline, the body being com- 
pressed. The mouth is rather large, with the 
jaws more projecting than in the lake white- 
fishes. The coloration is bluish or greenish on 
the back, with silvery sides and white belly. The 
scales are sprinkled with black specks. It is a 
very pretty fish, is gregarious, swimming in large 
schools, and feeds on the minute organisms found 
in lakes of good depth. It remains in deep water 
most of the year, but resorts to shallower water 
in the summer, preparatory to spawning. From 
the last of May to June, when the May-fly 
appears in vast swarms on the western lakes, the 
cisco approaches the surface to feed on them. It 



The Salmon Family 209 

is at this time that they take an artificial fly of 
a grayish hue. It grows to a length of ten or 
twelve inches, and is highly esteemed as a food- 
fish. 

At Lake Geneva, when the May-fly appears, 
crowds of anglers assemble to cast the artificial 
fly and the natural " cisco-fly," as the May-fly is 
called. A very light trout fly-rod with corre- 
sponding tackle can be utilized for cisco, with 
gray hackle, gray drake, or green drake, on hooks 
Nos. 8 to 10. The fishing is done from boats 
or the shore. In using the natural fly the same 
sized hooks mentioned will answer. As the May- 
fly alights on every object, the boat and clothing 
of the angler as well, the supply of bait is con- 
stant and convenient. 

The cisco can be caught in winter, through 
the ice, in water from fifty to seventy-five feet 
deep, and many are taken in this way from the 
lakes near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. A small 
white or bright object is used as a decoy to 
attract the fish, which is kept in motion near the 
baited hook, and on a separate line. The bait 
may be a very small bit of white bacon or ham 
fat, or fish flesh, though insect larva is better. 

When the talismanic words, " The cisco is run- 



2IO Bass, Pike, and Perch 

ning," are pronounced, crowds of anglers from 
Chicago, Milwaukee, and all intermediate points, 
with a unanimity of purpose, rush as one man 
to the common centre of Lake Geneva, in eager 
anticipation of the brief but happy season of " cis- 
coing." Anglers of every degree — armed with 
implements of every description, from the artistic 
split-bamboo rod of four ounces to the plebeian 
cane pole or bucolic sapling of slender propor- 
tions, and with lines of enamelled silk, linen, or 
wrapping cord — vie with one another in good- 
natured rivalry in the capture of the silvery cisco. 
Very little skill is required to fill the creel, as the 
schools are on the surface of the water in myriads, 
and the most bungling cast may hook a fish. 
Though the etymology of the cisco is unknown, 
it is a veritable entity, whose name is legion dur- 
ing the month of June at Lake Geneva. 

The cisco is a localized variety of the so-called 
lake-herring of the Great Lakes, and holds the 
same relation to it that the landlocked salmon 
does to the Atlantic salmon. Being confined to 
small lakes, the cisco does not grow so large as 
the lake herring. Before the Chicago and Mil- 
waukee railway was built, in Wisconsin, there 
was a plank road extending from Milwaukee to 



The Sahnon Family 211 

Watertown, and thirty miles west of Milwaukee 
this road crossed the outlet of Oconomowoc Lake. 
Within fifty yards or so of the bridge there stood 
a roadside tavern where the freight wagons 
stopped at noon on their way from Lake Michi- 
gan to Watertown. I have been informed by old 
residents of that section that in the fall of the 
year, about the spawning period of the cisco, 
boxes of fresh fish were frequently carried by 
these wagons, some of which were cleaned and 
dressed for dinner on the bank of the outlet of 
the lake, and the offal thrown into the stream. 
It is not unlikely, inasmuch as the fish were so 
recently caught, that the eggs and milt of the 
cisco thus became commingled, fertilizing the eggs, 
which were subsequently hatched. This opinion 
is supported by the fact that the cisco is found 
in that locality only in the chain of lakes com- 
posed of Oconomowoc, Okauchee, and La Belle 
lakes, all of which are connected by Oconomowoc 
River. It is possible that Lake Geneva was 
stocked in a similar manner from Racine or 
Kenosha. If it is objected that eggs from dead 
fish would not be fertilized, there is still a ten- 
able theory: When the fish are taken from the 
nets alive, many of them are so ripe that the 



212 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

eggs and milt ooze from them. Under these 
circumstances some of the eggs would become 
fertilized without a doubt, and by adhering to the 
fish when placed in the boxes for transportation, 
they might be carried to the place mentioned, 
and there deposited in the stream in the manner 
related. 



CHAPTER VIII 

THE DRUM FAMILY 
{ScicBnid(B) 

The drumfish or croaker family is quite a large 
one, comprising nearly one hundred and fifty 
species, inhabiting the sandy shores of the seas or 
the brackish water of the bays and estuaries, some- 
times ascending tributary rivers to fresh water; 
the fresh-water drum, hereafter to be described, 
however, is the only species permanently residing 
in fresh water. The members of this family have 
usually an elongate body, with rough-edged 
(ctenoid) scales ; the dorsal fin is deeply notched, 
or in some species separated into two fins, with 
the soft-rayed portion, or the second dorsal, com- 
posed of many rays, while the spiny-rayed portion 
has but few ; some have barbels, but all have large 
ear-bones; the air-bladder is usually large and 
complicated, and is supposed to be the source of 
the drumming, croaking, or grunting sounds com- 
mon to most of the species. 
213 



214 Bass, Pike, and Pcrcb 

Cynoscion regalis. The Weakfish. Body elongate, somewhat com- 
pressed ; head 3J; depth 4J ; eye 6; D. X-1, 27; A. II, 12; 
scales 6-56-1 1 ; mouth large, maxillary reaching beyond pupil; 
teeth sharp, in nairow bands, canines large ; soft dors;il and 
anal fins scaly, the scales caducous ; gill-rakers long and slender, 

X-\- II. 

Cynoscion nothus. The Bastard Weakfish. Body elongate, slightly 
compressed; head 3'j ; depth 3J ; eye 4; D. X-I, 27 ; A. II, 9 
or 10; scales 6-60-7 ; moutli moderate, maxillary reaching pos- 
terior margin of pupil ; snout short ; body rather deep and 
more compressed than above species ; back somewhat elevated ; 
caudal fin weakly double concave ; gill-rakers long and slender, 

4 + 9- 
Menticirrhus saxatilis. The Kingfish. Body elongate, but little 
compressed; head 4; depth 4.J ; eye small 7; D. X-I, 26; A. 

I, 8; scales 7-53-9 ; mouth large, maxillary reaching middle of 
eye ; spinous dorsal elevated ; pectoral fins long ; teeth villi- 
form ; snout long and bluntish ; scales all ctenoid. 

Micropoi^on iniduhitus. The Croaker. Body rather robust, the 
back somewhat elevated and compressed; head 3; depth 3J ; 
eye 5; D. X-I, 28; A. 11,7; scales 9-54-12; mouth rather 
large, maxillary reaching front of eye ; profile rounded ; snout 
convex, prominent; preopercle strongly serrate; anal under 
middle of soft dorsal ; caudal fin double truncate ; gill-rakers 
very short and slender, 7 + 16. 

Leiostomus xanthurus. The Lafayette. Body oblong, ovate, the 
back compressed; head 3J ; depth 3; eye 3^; D. X-I, 31 ; A. 

II, 12 ; back in front of dorsal high, convex and compressed to 
a sharp edge ; profile steep and convex, depressed over the eyes ; 
mouth small and inferior, maxillary reaching to below pupil ; 
snout blunt ; pharyngeals with three series of molars posteriorly ; 
teeth in upper jaw minute, none in lower jaw in adult ; gill-rakers 
short and slender, 8 + 22 ; caudal long and forked. 



The Drum Family 215 

THE WEAKFISH 

{Cynoscion regalis) 

The weakfish, or squeteague, was first described 
by Bloch and Schneider, in 1801, from the vicinity 
of New York. They named it regalis, or " royal." 
In the Southern states it is called gray-trout and 
sea-trout. The name weakfish is doubtless derived 
from the Dutch, and is said to have originally 
meant a soft fish. Jacob Steendam, in a poem 
in " Praise of New Netherland," in 1661, has 

" Weekvis, en Schol, en Carper, Bot, en Snoek," 

meaning weakfish, plaice, carp, turbot, and pike. 
The name squeteague is of Indian origin. 

The natural habitat of the weakfish is along 
the Atlantic coast south of Cape Cod, occasion- 
ally straying to the Gulf of Mexico. It is most 
abundant between Buzzards Bay and Chesapeake 
Bay. It is a handsome, shapely fish, resembling 
somewhat the salmon in outline. It has a robust 
body, with a depth of about one-fourth of its 
length. It has a long, pointed head, nearly as 
long as the depth of the body. The mouth is 
large, with projecting lower jaw. The teeth are 
sharp, in narrow bands, with several fanglike 
canines in front of the upper jaw. The dorsal 



2i6 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

fins are but slightly separated, and the caudal fin 
is almost square. 

The color of the back and top of the head is 
bluish or bluish gray, with silvery sides and white 
belly, and with purple and golden iridescence. 
A series of dark, diffused spots or blotches form 
transverse or oblique streaks, more pronounced 
on the upper part of the body, from whence they 
run downward and forward. The cheeks and 
gill-covers are silvery and chin yellowish ; the 
ventral and anal fins are orange ; dorsal fin 
dusky; pectoral fins yellowish; caudal fin with 
upper part dark and lower part yellowish. 

The weakfish is a warm-water fish, visiting the 
coast and bays during the spring, summer, and 
fall, though more abundant in the summer. 
They are surface feeders, and swim in large 
schools in quest of menhaden, scup, and other 
small fishes. They are more numerous some 
seasons than others, probably owing to certain 
conditions affecting their food, temperature of 
water, and the abundance or scarcity of their 
enemy, the bluefish. They seldom, if ever, 
ascend the streams to fresh water, but remain 
about the outer beaches, entering the inlets and 
estuaries on the flood tide in pursuit of their 



The Drum Family 217 

prey, and go out again with the ebb ; at least this 
is the habit of the largest fish, known as " tide- 
runners." Smaller fish probably remain in the 
bays and bayous, resorting to deep holes at low 
water. 

Its breeding habits are not well understood, 
though it spawns in the bays in early summer, 
about May or June. The eggs are quite small, 
about thirty to the inch, are buoyant or floating, 
and hatch in a few days, usually in two. I have 
taken many hundreds in Chesapeake Bay in 
August, but do not remember ever catching 
one containing roe during that month. It is an 
excellent food-fish if perfectly fresh, but soon 
deteriorates, becoming quite soft and losing its 
characteristic flavor when out of the water a few 
hours. It is quite an important commercial fish 
during summer in the eastern markets. Small 
ones, below a pound in weight, are delicious pan- 
fish; larger ones should be baked. Its usual 
weight is two or three pounds, and its maximum 
ten or twelve ; occasionally they are taken still 
heavier — twenty or twenty-five pounds. 

Being a surface feeder it is a good game-fish 
on light tackle, taking bait or an artificial fly with 
a rush and snap that reminds one of a trout, 



2i8 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

and for a short time it resists capture bravely. 
Its first spurt, when hooked, is a grand one, and 
when checked darts in various directions, making 
for the weeds if any are near, or toward the bot- 
tom, or rushing to the surface leaps out, shaking 
itself madly to dislodge the hook. It must be 
handled carefully and gingerly, for it has a tender 
mouth from which the hook is apt to be torn if 
too much strain is exerted at first. 

A very light striped-bass rod may be utilized, 
but the most suitable is the " Little Giant " rod of 
seven and one-half feet and eight ounces in ash 
and lancewood. A good multiplying reel with 
fifty yards of braided linen line, size G, a three- 
foot leader, and snelled hooks, Sproat the best, 
Nos. i-o to 3-0 for the tide-runners, and Nos. i 
or 2 for school fish, together with a landing-net, 
constitute the rest of the tackle. 

The most satisfactory mode of fishing for weak- 
fish is from a boat anchored near the channel, or 
tied to a pier or wharf in a tideway. The time 
for fishing is on the flood tide, from half flood 
to half ebb, as the tide-runners are going in or 
out in large schools. As little noise as possible 
should be made by any necessary movements in 
the boat, as the fish are easily frightened. Long 



The Drum Family 219 

casts should be made toward the advancing or 
retreating fish, and the bait kept in motion by 
being reeled in. No sinker or float is required, 
as the bait must be kept near the surface. Men- 
haden or minnows, shedder-crab, lobster, blood- 
worms, clam, and shrimp are all good natural baits. 
A small spinner, or a small mother-of-pearl squid, 
if reeled in rapidly, often proves very taking ; also 
a large, gaudy fly, as the red ibis, soldier, silver 
doctor, Jock Scott, royal coachman, etc., can be 
used with good effect when the fish are running 
strongly and in goodly numbers. 

Still-fishing, with a float, and a sinker adapted 
to the strength of the tidal current, can be prac- 
tised in the eddies of the tide, or at slack water 
near deep holes, using the natural baits men- 
tioned. Another method is casting with heavy 
hand-line in the surf from the outside beaches, 
using block tin or bone squids, and hauling the 
fish in, when hooked, by main strength. The 
largest fish are taken in this way ; but while it is 
in a degree exciting, it can only be said to be 
fishing, not angling. Many anglers, however, 
prefer it to any other mode of fishing. Another 
favorite method, but a tame one, is drifting with 
the wind and tide, following a school of fish and 



220 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

taking them by trolling with hand-line. If suit- 
able rods and tackle were used, it would not be 
objectionable. 

Next to the striped-bass the weakfish is the 
most important game-fish of the East Coast, and 
to judge from the greater number of anglers who 
pursue " weakfishing," it is far and away the 
favorite with the majority. The estuaries and 
bays of the Jersey coast, Long Island, and Staten 
Island, and along the Sound, afford good fishing 
in the season and at favorable stages of the tide. 
These localities are more frequented by anglers 
than any other section of the East Coast. While 
ideal angling can only be found on inland waters 
in casting the fly for salmon, black-bass, or trout, 
amidst the rural and pastoral scenes of hill and 
hollow, with the birds and sweet-scented blossoms 
ever near the rippling streams — a full measure 
of enjoyment is vouchsafed to the salt-water 
angler in the exhilarating sail to the fishing- 
banks, the sunlit crests of the incoming tide, and 
the health-giving ozone of the chlorinated breeze. 
Then follows the ready response of the gamy weak- 
fish to the angler's lure, the brave fight and happy 
landing of the prize. This is surely sport galore, 
and not to be gainsaid by the most prejudiced. 



The Drum Family 221 

THE BASTARD WEAKFISH 

( Cynoscion nothus) 

The bastard weakfish was first described by 
Dr. Holbrook, in i860, from the coast of South 
CaroHna. He named it nothus, meaning " bas- 
tard," in contradistinction to the well-known 
weakfish just described. It is a rare fish of the 
South Atlantic coast, preferring deep water, but 
otherwise of similar habits, and of the same 
general form as the weakfish of the northern 
waters. It differs from it in coloration, and has 
somewhat smaller scales, a smaller mouth, and 
more compressed body, which is also a little 
deeper and more elevated. Its color is grayish- 
silvery, thickly sprinkled with small, dark specks 
on the upper half of the body, and silvery below, 
a row of dark spots marking the division. There 
is another species inhabiting the Gulf coast 
which will be noticed later. Whenever met with 
they can be taken by the same methods and with 
the same tackle as recommended for the northern 
weakfish. 

THE KINGFISH 

{Meniicirrhns saxatilis) 

The kingfish is also known as barb and sea 
mink in the North, and in the South as whiting. 



222 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

It was first described by Bloch and Schneider, in 
I So I, from the vicinity of New York. They 
named \isaxafi/is, meaning "Hving among rocks," 
which by the way it does not do, as it prefers 
hard, sandy shoals. Its range extends along the 
Atlantic coast south of Buzzards Bay, occasionally 
straying to the Gulf of Mexico. It is most 
abundant, however, between Montauk Point and 
Cape Hatteras. 

It has a long, rather round body, not much 
compressed, its depth being nearly a fourth of its 
length. The head is long, with a blunt snout 
projecting beyond the mouth, which is small, 
with tough, leathery lips, and with a single barbel 
on the chin. Both jaws have bands of small, 
brushlike teeth, the outer ones in the upper jaw 
somewhat longer. The upper angle of the caudal 
fin is sharp, the lower angle rounded. 

Its color is gray with steely lustre on the back, 
fading gradually to the belly, which is bluish 
white. There are several dark, oblique bands, 
running from the back downward and forward, 
and one extending from the nape downward, form- 
ing a broad " V " with the one next to it ; along 
the border of the belly is a horizontal dark streak 
running from the middle of the body to the tail. 



The Drum Family 223 

The kingfish is a bottom feeder, and as might 
be inferred from the character of the teeth is 
partial to crabs, shrimps, young lobsters, and 
mussels, but does not object to the sand-lance 
and other small fishes, and sandworms, and is 
found on the hard, sandy shoals where such 
organisms abound. It visits the shores from 
spring until November, but is more abundant in 
the summer, when it enters the bays and rivers. 
It is usually found in deep water, feeding along 
the channels. Although it seems to consort a 
good deal with the weakfish, its habits of feeding 
are quite different from that fish. It spawns in 
the summer, earlier or later, according to the tem- 
perature of the water, though but little is known 
of its breeding habits. 

Its flesh is flaky, of firm texture, and has a 
delicious flavor when perfectly fresh, which, how- 
ever, is lost when out of the water a short time. 
It is of small size, usually weighing from a half 
pound to two pounds, though occasionally reach- 
ing five or six pounds. But although so small 
it is justly esteemed and in great demand, the 
smaller ones as pan-fishes, for breakfast, and the 
larger ones for chowders, for which it is unex- 
celled by any other fish. 



2 24 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

For its size, the kingfish is considered the 
gamest of all salt-water fishes. It bites savagely, 
suddenly, and with a vim and purpose that are 
sometimes startling to the unwary angler. And 
when he takes the proffered bait he stands not 
upon the order of going, but goes at once, and 
with a dash that is remarkable for its length in 
so small a fish. When checked, he darts from 
side to side with amazing quickness, or makes 
straight for the surface, when the angler is sur- 
prised to find him of so small a size. He is 
multum in parvo, — a large soul in a small body. 

In sheltered estuaries and bays where the tide 
does not run strongly or swiftly, or during the 
stages of slack water, the most suitable tackle 
consists of a black-bass bait-rod and reel, one 
hundred yards of fine braided linen line, a three- 
foot leader, and Sproat hooks, Nos. i or i-o, on 
stout gut snells, the leader being connected with 
the line by a brass box-swivel or swivel-sinker of 
small size. Where the rush of the tide is greater, 
a natural bamboo chum rod or the Little Giant 
rod is appropriate, as a heavy sinker must be 
used to keep the bait near the bottom. To meet 
the varying conditions of the tide, sinkers of 
different weights are needed, and a landing-net 



The Drum Family 225 

should not be forgotten when the rod is a light 
■V one. 

■ The fishing is done from a boat anchored near 
the edge of the channels or in the vicinity of hard 
shoals of sand, ledges of rocks, or near oyster bars, 
in water of pretty good depth. The bait may be 
shedder-crab, clam, blood-worm, or shrimp. All 
are good, but crab is, perhaps, the best, and should 
be kept in motion. 

The northern kingfish must not be confounded 
with the kingfish of the Florida Keys, which is a 
fish of the mackerel tribe, akin to the Spanish 
mackerel, a game-fish of high order, growing to 
a weight of forty pounds. I was amused several 
years ago when a correspondent applied to the 
angling editor of one of the sportsman's jour- 
nals for information concerning the kingfish of 
Florida. The editor, not knowing any better, 
confounded it with the northern kingfish, and 
recommended the usual means of capture for 
that fish. I wondered, at the time, how the 
inquiring angler succeeded with the nimble acro- 
bat of the coral reefs, still-fishing, with such tackle. 

There are two closely allied species — the Caro- 
lina whiting {Menticirrhus americanus) and the 
surf or silver whiting {Menticirrhus littoralis), — 



2 26 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

which differ somewhat in coloration and in some 
unimportant structural differences ; otherwise they 
are very similar to the kingfish. The former in- 
habits the deeper water, while the latter frequents 
the shallow sandy shores of the southern coast 
from Carolina to Texas. Their feeding habits 
are similar to those of the kingfish, and in their 
season they can be captured in the same way. 

THE CROAKER 

{Alicropogon undulatiis^ 

The croaker was described by Linnaeus, in 
1766, from South Carolina. He named it midu- 
latus, " undulating or wavy," owing to the undu- 
lating character of the markings on the body and 
fins. Its range extends along the Atlantic coast 
and Gulf of Mexico from the Middle states to 
Texas, though it is more abundant from the 
Chesapeake Bay to Florida. The outline of the 
body is somewhat elliptical and compressed, not 
much elevated on the back, but with rather a 
regular curve from the snout to the tail ; its depth 
is less than a third of its length. The head is 
about as long as the depth of the body, with a 
prominent, somewhat blunt snout, and a rather 
large mouth, with small barbels beneath the lower 




THE WEAKFISH 
Cynoscion regalis 




THE KINGFISH 
Menticirrhus saxatUis 




THE GERMAN CARP 
Cyprinus carpio 



The Drum Family 227 

jaw. The border of the cheek-bones is strongly 
toothed. The teeth of the jaws are in brushlike 
bands, with somewhat longer ones in the upper 
jaw. There are two dorsal fins, slightly con- 
nected ; the caudal fin is double concave or trifur- 
cate. The back is dusky gray with silvery lustre, 
sides silvery or brassy, belly white and iridescent. 
There are a number of dusky or cloudy vertical 
or oblique bands, and the upper part of the body 
is profusely sprinkled with numerous dark spots, 
irregularly placed, in undulating lines. A dusky 
spot is at the base of the pectoral fin ; the dorsal 
fins are marked with dark spots, which form lines 
along the soft dorsal fin. 

The croaker frequents grassy situations in the 
brackish water of bays and bayous, feeding on 
crabs, shrimps, and other crustaceans, and small 
fishes. It grows to a length of ten or twelve 
inches, and is a good pan-fish when perfectly 
fresh. It spawns in the autumn. 

On the grassy flats of the Patapsco and other 
tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay I have caught 
countless numbers of the "crocus," as we boys 
called it. Just under the gill-cover, nearly al- 
ways, we found a parasitic crustacean or sea- 
louse, a half inch in length, resembling the land 



228 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

crustacean known as the wood-louse, or sow-bug, 
— probably an isopod. 

A very light rod, a fine linen line, snelled 
hooks Nos. I to 3, and a small sinker or brass 
swivel for connecting line and snell are all that 
are needed for the croaker, as a reel is not neces- 
sary. The boat is anchored on grassy flats in 
water from six to twelve feet in depth. Shrimp 
is the best bait, though cut-bait of clam or fish 
is good. A float may be used to keep the bait 
from the bottom in still water. While this fish 
and the next, the spot or Lafayette, are usually 
classed as small fry, and particularly suited to 
boy anglers, they are such good pan-fish that 
many "grown-ups" are quite enthusiastic in their 
capture. They hold about the same relation 
to the more important game-fishes of the coast 
lliat tlie sunfishes do to the black-bass, trout, 
pike, etc., of inland waters. When no better fish- 
ing offers they will fill the void very satisfactorily 
when light and suitable tackle is employed. 

THE LAFAYETTE 

( Leiostomiis xanthurus) 

The Lafayette, spot, or goody, as it is variously 
called, was described by Lacepede, in 1802, from 



The Drum Family 229 

South Carolina, He named it xmithurus, mean- 
ing "yellow tail," under the impression that its 
caudal fin was yellow, — which, however, it is not. 
Its range extends from Cape Cod to Texas, 
though it is most abundant from New Jersey to 
Florida. It is found throughout its range in 
brackish-water bays and bayous, and is some- 
what similar in appearance to the croaker. It 
has a short, deep body; the back in front of 
the dorsal fin is compressed to a sharp edge or 
"razor-back"; the outline of the back is arched, 
highest over the shoulder, with a steep profile 
from thence to the snout ; the depth of the body 
is more than a third of its length. The head is 
not so long as the depth of the body ; the snout is 
blunt and prominent; the mouth is small. There 
are few or no teeth in the lower jaw, while those 
in the upper jaw are quite small. The throat is 
well armed with molars and brushlike teeth. 
There are two dorsal fins, slightly connected ; the 
caudal fin is forked. It is bluish or dusky above, 
with silvery sides and white belly; when fresh 
from the water it is very iridescent. It has 
about fifteen narrow, dark, wavy bands extending 
obliquely downward and forward, from the back 
to below the lateral line; the fins are olivaceous 



230 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

and plain ; it has a very prominent and distinct 
round black spot just above the base of the pec- 
toral fin, which has given rise to the name spot 
in some localities. 

Like the croaker, the Lafayette resorts to 
grassy and weedy situations in the brackish- 
water bays, estuaries, and tributaries. In Florida 
it is present all the year, but does not enter 
northern waters until summer and autumn, when 
it is often found in company with the croaker or 
white-perch. It feeds on shrimps and other small 
crustaceans and small mollusks. It spawns in 
southern waters in the fall. Although but a 
small fish, growing to eight or ten inches in 
length, and usually to but six inches, it is a great 
favorite as a pan-fish, as when perfectly fresh it is 
a delicious tidbit or donne-doucke of most excel- 
lent flavor. 

The same tackle recommended for the croaker 
is well adapted for the spot, though the hooks 
should be smaller, Nos. 4 to 6. It is found in 
the same situations as the croaker, and often in 
shallow water, or about the piling of bridges and 
wharves, wherever shrimps abound. My method, 
many years ago, was to use a light cane rod, ten 
or twelve feet in length, and a fine line of about 



The Drum Family 231 

the same length, very small hooks, about No. 8, 
with bait of shrimp, cut clam, oyster, sandworm, 
or earthworm. I used no float, but held the rod 
elevated sufficiently to keep the bait from touch- 
ing the bottom, thus maintaining a taut line, so 
that the slightest nibble of the fish could be felt, 
when I would endeavor to hook it at once, for it 
is as well versed in bait-stealing as the cunner. 

It is only necessary to refer to the many names 
by which this little fish is known in various sec- 
tions of the country to prove its popularity. 
Some of these are the spot, goody. Cape May 
goody, and Lafayette of northern waters, the 
roach and chub of Carolina, and the chopa blanca 
(white bream) and besugo (sea-bream) of the 
Portuguese and Spanish fishermen of Florida. It 
appeared in unusually large numbers in northern 
waters about the time that Lafayette visited this 
country in 1834, hence one of its numerous names. 

Years ago I have seen crowds of men, women, 
and boys occupying front seats on the wood- 
wharves of Baltimore harbor engaged in fishing 
for spots and croakers, on Saturday afternoons, 
and many a boy was tardy at Sunday-school the 
next morning through picking out the bones from 
his Sunday breakfast. 



CHAPTER IX 

THE DRUM FAMILY {CONTIN-UED) 
{ScicFuidcr) 

The most conspicuous and characteristic fea- 
tures by which the members of this family may 
be known were given in the preceding chapter, 
where the brackish-water and salt-water species 
were described. There is but one species found 
in fresh water, a description of which follows. 

Aplodinoius grunniens. The Fresh-water Drum. Body oblong, 
much elevated, and compressed ; profile long and steep ; snout 
blunt ; head 3J ; depth 2\ ; eye moderate ; D. X, 30 ; A. II, 7 ; 
scales 9-55-13; mouth small, low, and horizontal, lower jaw in- 
cluded; teeth in villiform bands, pharyngeals with coarse, blunt, 
paved teeth ; preopercle slightly serrate ; the dorsal fins some- 
what connected ; scaly sheaths at base of spiny portion of dorsal 
and anal fins ; second anal spine very large ; gill-rakers short, 
6+14; pyloric coeca 7 ; caudal fin double truncate. 

THE FRESH-WATER DRUMFISH 

{Aplodinoius grunniens) 

This well-known fish of the Middle West is 
also known as lake-sheepshead on the Great 
Lakes, white-perch on the Ohio River, gaspergou 
232 



The Drum Family 233 

in Louisiana, and as bubbler, croaker, thunder- 
pumper, and other names in various sections of 
the country. It was first described by Rafi- 
nesque, in 18 19, from the Ohio River. He 
named it grunjiiens, meaning "grunting," from 
the grunting sound it makes, in common with 
other members of the drum family, when taken 
from the water. It inhabits the Great Lakes 
and other smaller lakes in the vicinity, extend- 
ing along the Mississippi Valley to Louisiana, 
Texas, and Mexico. 

The fresh-water drum is somewhat elliptical 
in outline, with quite a hump over the shoulders, 
with a depth of about one-third of its length, 
while its head constitutes more than a fourth 
of the length of the body. The single dorsal 
fin has the appearance of two. The ear-bones 
(otoliths) are quite large and resemble porcelain 
in their peculiar whiteness, and have a sem- 
blance of the letter " L " seemingly cut on them. 
From this circumstance they are known as 
" lucky-stones," and are often carried by boys as 
pocket-pieces. 

It is of a grayish silvery hue, dark on the 
back, fading to white on the belly. In the lakes 
of the North it has several oblique dusky streaks 



234 Bjss, Pike, diid Perch 

or bands, resembling in a minor degree those of 
the sheepshead of tlie coastwise streams and 
bays. In southern waters the streaks are not 
so apparent, and it is called white-perch, owing 
to its silvery appearance. It is a bottom fish, 
feeding mostly on mollusks, which it crushes 
with the blunt teeth of the throat. It also feeds 
on small fishes, crawfish, and other small organ- 
isms. Its spawning habits are unknown, but it 
probably spawns in the spring and sunuuer. 

On the Great Lakes it grows to an enormous 
size, occasionally reaching fifty or sixty pounds, 
though as usually taken by anglers it is from three 
to ten pounds in weight. It is of no value as a 
food-fish in that region, being seldom eaten and 
heartily despised. On the Ohio and lower Missis- 
sippi rivers its weight is much less, from one to six 
pounds, and it is there considered a good pan-fish, 
selling readily in the markets. There is no doubt 
but that it is of better fiavor in southern waters 
when of small size. 

As a commercial fish it is taken in nets in 
the North, and in fyke-nets in the southern extent 
of its range. On northern lakes it is often taken 
by anglers when fishing for black-bass, and being 
a strong, vigorous fish with the family habit of 



The Drum Family 235 

boring toward the bottom when hooked, it fur- 
nishes fair sport, and with considerable jeopardy 
to light tackle, when of large size. The angler 
is at first elated with what he imagines to be 
a fine bass until its identity is established, when 
his enthusiasm gives place to infinite disgust. 
And this is one reason why it is despised in 
northern waters, and very unjustly, too, for it is 
game enough, so far as resistance is concerned, 
and is entitled to that much credit. In southern 
waters it bites freely at small minnows, crawfish, 
or mussels, and is there better appreciated and 
has a fair reputation as a game-fish. I have 
enjoyed fishing for it with light tackle on White 
and St. Francis rivers in Arkansas, and some 
of the streams in Mississippi. Light black-bass 
tackle is quite suitable for it. 



CHAPTER X 

THE MINNOW FAMILY 
{Cyprinida:^ 

This family of fresh-water fishes numbers 
probably a thousand species, mostly of small size 
in America and known universally as " minnows." 
In the eastern hemisphere the species grow 
larger, and of these, two have been introduced into 
America, — the German carp and the goldfish. 

Cyprinus carpio. The German Carp. Body robust, compressed, 
heavy anteriorly ; head 4i ; depth 3^ ; scales (normally) 5-38-5 ; 
mouth moderate, with four long barbels \ teeth molar, 1,1, 3-3, 
1,1; dorsal fin elongate, dorsal and anal fins each preceded by 
a serrated spine. D. Ill, 20; A. Ill, 5. 

THE GERMAN CARP 

{Cyprinus carpio) 

The carp was described and named by Lin- 
naeus in 1758. Its original home was in China, 
and from thence it was introduced into Europe, 
and from there to America. 

Since the introduction of the carp into the 
United States, some thirty years ago, it may now 
236 



The Minnow Family 237 

be said to inhabit every state in the Union, 
having escaped from the ponds in which it was 
placed at first, into almost every stream, espe- 
cially in the Mississippi Valley. 

The dorsal fin is single, extending from the 
middle of the back nearly to the tail, highest in 
front. In the typical scale-carp the scales are 
large, there being about thirty-eight along the 
lateral line, with five rows above it and five rows 
below. But domestication has greatly altered the 
squamation; thus in the leather-carp the body 
is naked, with the exception of a few very large 
ones on the back; in the mirror-carp there are a 
few rows of very large scales. The coloration is 
as variable as its scales. It is usually of some 
shade of olive or brown, with golden lustre, dark- 
est on the back, with the belly whitish or yellowish. 

In Europe the carp hibernates, or remains 
dormant during the winter, burying itself in the 
mud of the bottom with its tail only exposed. 
In America it seems to have abandoned this 
habit almost entirely, especially in the more 
southern waters. It is not strictly, if at all, a 
herbivorous fish as has been alleged, but stirs up 
the bottom of ponds in search of minute animal 
organisms, rendering the water foul and muddy. 



238 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

It also devours the spawn of other fishes, though 
some persons contend that it does not, which 
is absurd, when it is considered that almost all 
fishes are addicted to this natural vice. I know 
from my own observation that the carp is not 
exempt from the habit. It grows to a length of 
two feet under favorable conditions. One of 
twenty-four inches will weigh about ten pounds. 
As a food-fish it ranks below the buffalo or 
sucker. It sells readily, however, to negroes, 
Chinese, and Polish Jews of the cities. 

I have no love for the German carp, but as it 
is now so plentiful in most waters, especially in 
the Mississippi Valley, and is constantly increas- 
ing in numbers, it may be well enough to devote 
a small space to it as a game-fish. It is a very 
poor fish at best, and as the poor we have always 
with us, we will never be rid of it. In England, 
where it has existed for centuries, it is considered 
a very shy and uncertain fish to catch ; and the 
larger the fish, the more difficult to circumvent. 
The best success, and the best is very poor, is 
met with on small, stagnant ponds, with compara- 
tively small fish. English anglers use a small 
quill float and split-shot sinker, allowing the bait 
to just touch the bottom. They then stick the butt 



The Minnow Family 239 

of the rod in the ground and retire out of sight 
of the fish, watching the float meanwhile. They 
use for bait, worms, maggots, and pastes of va- 
rious kinds, and usually ground-bait the " swims " 
to be fished, a day in advance. 

Where the carp are large, five or six pounds, 
the rod, reel, and line recommended for black- 
bass fishing will subserve a good purpose. A 
leader three feet long, stained mud color, must 
be used, with small hooks, Nos. 7 or 8, tied on 
gut snells. One of the best baits is a red 
earthworm. 

I think the hook can hardly be too small ; Nos. 
10 or 12 would probably be more successful than 
larger ones, as the fish is apt to eject the bait at 
once upon feeling the hook concealed in it. 
And this is especially important if such baits as 
bread paste, hard-boiled potato, or boiled grain 
are employed. 

The carp has a peculiar mouth, and feeds 
much like the sucker. It draws in mud and 
water and food together, strains the water 
through the gills, expelling it by the gill-open- 
ings, and probably macerates the residue by 
means of the tongue and the cushiony lining of 
the buccal cavity before swallowing it. During 



240 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

this process of mouthing the bait the fish is very 
likely to discover the hook, if large, and eject it. 

When once hooked, the tish is not to be 
lightly esteemed. The angler will have all he 
can attend to with a light nxl in a weedy pond, 
or even in clear water if the lish is i^f large size. 
As most other game-fishes may in time disappear 
before the Asiatic carp, the analogue of the Mon- 
golian boxer, it may be well and prudent to learn 
some of the ways to cnitwit liini. In China and 
Japan the carp is considered before any other fish 
for food, and is emblematic of strength, vigor, 
antl other good (lualities. It is a custom in 
Japanese households, upon the birth of a male 
child, to hoist a flag representing a caqi, in or- 
der that he may grow in strength ami all manly 
attributes. In England the carp is not much 
liked. On the continent of Euro})e it is consid- 
ered a good food-fish, but it is confined in clear 
running water to deprive it of its earthy flavor 
before it is marketed or eaten. It is likewise 
kept within proper bounds, although it has been 
cultivated for centuries. In the United States, 
however, it has spread over the Mississippi 
Valley and elsewhere from overtlowed ponds un- 
til it bids fair to become a nuisance, inasmuch 



The Minnow Family 241 

as our waters seem to be particularly suited to it. 
As there are so many better species of food-fishes 
in this country, both in fresh and salt water, 
there was no excuse or necessity for its intro- 
duction, which I consider as great a calamity as 
that of the English sparrow or the Shanghai 
chicken, and adding a third foreign evil that we 
will never be rid of. 

I have experimented with carp fishing, but I 
think the results were never twice alike. A 
great deal depends on the condition of the water. 
In ponds that are kept constantly muddy by the 
rooting of the carp, it is difficult for them to see 
the bait, and they must then depend on the 
olfactory sense to find it. This may take a longer 
time than the patience of the angler will admit. 
When the water is clear, as on a stream, the carp 
is too apt to see the angler, and being naturally a 
shy fish will not go near the bait under these 
circumstances. There is then nothing to do but 
to fix the rod in the bank and lie down beside it, 
or behind a bush or screen, until the moving of 
the float announces the hooking of the fish. By 
using a small float, fine line, and very small hooks, 
and a variety of baits, as earthworms, boiled 
grain or vegetables, pastes of various kinds, and 



242 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

a good stock of patience, one may eventually suc- 
ceed in taking a few fish ; but the game is hardly 
worth the candle. 

As the fish has its advocates, however, I add 
the following account of angling for carp in 
England, where it has been acclimated for 
several centuries. The directions given are 
abridoed from Cornwall Simeon, a writer on 
natural history and angling: — 

" The tackle required will simply be a long rod, 
a reel containing not less than fifty yards of 
fineish line, a fine but sound casting-line nearly 
as long as the rod, hooks of about No. 9 size tied 
on gut to match, and a small, unpretending float, 
besides a good lump of the crumb of new bread, 
and a landing-net. Select a quiet, shallow part 
of the pond, especially if the weather be hot, and 
near its edge stick a few small bushes as a screen. 
Then plumb the depth of the water, and cover 
the whole of your hook, leaving not the slightest 
part visible, with a piece of bread kneaded into 
paste, and setting the float two or three feet 
farther from the bait than the depth of the water, 
throw it well out, drawing in afterward all the 
slack of your line. You may then rest your rod 
on a forked stick, and sitting down, smoke your 



The Minnow Family 243 

pipe if you like, and proceed to ground-bait the 
place by filliping in bread pills all round your 
bait and pretty wide of it. The two great objects 
should be not to alarm the carp and to get them 
to feed. They are very timid, and if they once 
take fright at anything and leave a place in conse- 
quence, it will generally be a good while before 
they will return to it. For this reason I prefer 
not to throw in any ground-bait when fishing 
for them until all my preparations are made and 
the actual bait is in the water. When they 
begin to come to the bread, if the bottom is at all 
muddy and the water not too deep, you will see 
lines of mud stirred up by them as they come on, 
nuzzling in it like so many pigs. You have 
then only to keep quiet and bide your time. 
The float will give you sufficient warning when 
to strike, and you should only do so when the 
carp is going well and steadily away with it. If 
your tackle is sound, and you are not in too 
great a hurry, you may make pretty sure of land- 
ing him." 



CHAPTER XI 

THE CATFISH FAMILY 
{Siliiriiiu-) 

The catfish family is represented by many 
species in the United States. They have the 
body entirely naked, barbels about the mouth, 
and an adipose fin, after the fashion of the fishes 
of the salmon family. They vary greatly in size, 
from the little stone-cat of three inches to the 
immense Mississippi-cat of nearly two hundred 
pounds. But one species will be noticed. 

litalurus punctatus. The Channel-cattish. Body elongate, slender, 
compressed posteriorly; head 4; depths; eye large ; D. 1,6; 
A. 25 to 30 ; head slender and conical ; mouth small, upper jaw 
longest ; barbels long, the longest reaching considerably beyond 
the gill opening ; humeral process long and slender ; caudal fin 
long and deeply forked. 

THE CHANNEL-CATFISH 

{^Icialiirus piouiatus) 

The channel-cat was first described by Rafi- 
nesque, in 1820, from the Ohio River, He named 
it ptinctatus, or " spotted," owing to the black 




THE CHANNEL-CATFISH 

ktalurus pundatus 




THE SHEEPSHEAD 
Aychosargus probatocephalus 




THE GUNNER 
Tautogolabrus adspersus 



The Catfish Family 245 

spots on its sides. It is also known as white- 
cat and blue-cat in various parts of its range. 
It is found in rivers of the Great Lake region 
and Mississippi Valley, and in the streams 
tributary to the Gulf of Mexico. 

It is the most trimly-built of all the catfishes, 
with a long, slender body and small head. It is 
olivaceous or slate color above, sides pale and 
silvery, with small, round, dark spots ; belly 
white ; fins usually with dark edgings. 

Unlike most of the catfishes the channel-cat 
is found only in clear or swift streams, never in 
still, muddy situations. It is a clean, wholesome 
fish, and feeds mostly on minnows and crawfish. 
It is a good food-fish, the flesh being white and 
firm and of a rich flavor. It grows to a weight 
of twenty pounds, occasionally, though usually 
to five or six pounds. 

The channel-cat is a very fine game-fish. It 
takes the live minnow readily, also shedder craw- 
fish, and will not refuse earthworms, cut butcher 
meat or liver. When hooked it is second to no 
other fish of its size as a bold, strong fighter be- 
neath the surface. The angler who has " tackled," 
in a literal sense, a channel-cat of five pounds, 
on a light rod, can vouch for its gameness. 



246 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

As it coexists with the black-bass in streams 
in the Mississippi Valley, and is usually taken 
by the angler when angling for that fish, the 
rod, reel, line, and hook recommended for the 
black-bass will be found eminently serviceable 
for the channel-cat. It is fond of the deep 
pools below mill-dams, and in the channels of 
streams off gravelly or rocky shoals, and near 
shelving banks and rocks. The method of 
casting the minnow for black-bass answers well 
for the channel-cat, though the casts should 
not be so frequently made, and more time should 
be allowed for the display of the minnow in 
mid-water. 

Still-fishing with a small, live minnow for bait 
is the plan generally followed; and as the bait 
should be left to its own devices for several min- 
utes at a time, a light float is sometimes useful for 
keeping it off the bottom. When crawfish, cut- 
bait, or worms are used, the float must always be 
employed for the same reason. The fish should 
be given several seconds to gorge the bait, and 
then hooked by an upward, short, and quick 
movement of the tip of the rod. When hooked 
it should feel constantly the strain of the bent 
rod, and no more line given than is actually 



The Catfish Family 247 

necessary ; otherwise the struggle will last a long 
time. No half-hearted measures will answer for 
the channel-cat, which has a wonderful amount 
of vitality. He must be subdued by the deter- 
mined opposition of a good rod and a strong 
arm. 

There are a number of other catfishes that 
are taken by angling, but none are worthy of 
the name of game-fishes, though as food they 
are nearly all to be commended. There are two 
other species of channel-cats, though neither is 
quite so good either as game-fishes or for food. 
They are the blue-cat, also known as chuckle- 
head cat {Jctalurus furcatus), which may be 
known by its more extensive anal fin, which has 
from thirty to thirty-five rays, and its bluish 
silvery color, and with but few if any spots. 
The other is the willow-cat, or eel-cat {Ictalurus 
anguilla), of a pale yellowish or olivaceous color, 
without spots. Both of these fishes are found 
in southern waters from Ohio to Louisiana. 
The channel-cats are often called forked-tail 
cats, as they are the only catfishes that have 
the caudal fin deeply forked. 

I think no one appreciates the gameness of the 
channel-catfish, or has such a just estimation of its 



248 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

toothsomeness, as the Kentucky darky. He will 
sit all day long, a monument of patience, on a log 
or rock at the edge of a " cat-hole" of the stream, 
with hickory pole, strong line and hook, and a 
bottle cork for a float. He baits his hook with a 
piece of liver or a shedder crawfish — " soft craw," 
he calls it, and only uses minnows when the other 
baits fail. Apropos of this love for the channel- 
cat may be related the true incident of the " corn- 
field" darky who, while fishing for cats, had the 
luck to hook a fine black-bass, which was landed 
after a " strenuous " struggle, to the envy of his 
companions. After surveying it with evident 
admiration awhile, he unhooked it, and with a 
profound sigh he deliberately threw it back into 
the stream to the amazement and disgust of the 
others. "Good Lawd, Jeff," exclaimed one, " w'at 
yo' done do dat fur 1 dat sholy wa' a good bass ; 
must a weighed more'n a couple o' poun's ! " He 
surveyed the group with supreme contempt for a 
moment before he replied, " Wen I go a-cattin', 
I go a-cattin'." What greater tribute to the 
channel-cat than this ! 

On the other hand I was once fly-fishing on a 
black-bass stream in Kentucky, with a friend from 
Ohio who was casting the minnow. Having each 



The Catfish Family 249 

made a good basket we were ready to quit, as the 
evening shadows were lengthening and the air 
was becoming decidedly cool. I was taking my 
rod apart, but my friend wanted to make "just 
one more cast," which happened to be on an 
inviting-looking "cat-hole." As I was tying the 
strings of my rod case I heard him exclaim joy- 
fully, " I've got the boss bass of the season ! " 
Turning, I perceived him wildly dancing on the 
edge of the pool, his rod bent to an alarming 
curve, and the strain on his line evidently near 
the danger point. I watched in vain for the leap 
of the bass, and then concluded he had business 
on hand for an uncertain period, for I felt sure 
that he had hooked a channel-cat of consider- 
able avoirdupois. The fight was well sustained, 
and a gallant one on both sides ; but it seemed 
impossible for the light rod to bring the fish near 
enough to slip the landing-net under it. Finally 
he backed away from the stream, drawing the fish 
close to the shore, where I netted it — a channel- 
cat of five pounds. When my friend saw what it 
was, he was the most disappointed and disgusted 
man in Kentucky. " Great Scott ! " he yelled, 
" I nearly ruined my rod for a confounded cat- 
fish. " — "Well," said I, "you had your fun; he 



250 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

put up a good fight ; what more do you want ? " 
— " Want ! want ! " he angrily cried, " I want to 
stamp the life out of the horrid brute ; and I'll do 
it, too ! " But I unhooked the fish and strung it 
on a willow branch. I had it stuffed and baked 
for our dinner next day, when he acknowledged 
that it was the best fish he ever ate, and was 
entirely consoled for the strain to his rod, to say 
nothing of his temper, and ever after had a better 
opinion of the channel-cat. 




FISHING FOR GUNNERS 



CHAPTER XII 

THE SHEEPSHEAD FAMILY 
{Sparida) 

This family embraces the sheepshead, porgies, 
and sea-breams. It is characterized principally 
by a heavy, compressed body, strong jaws and 
teeth, the front ones incisor-like and broad, and 
flat, grinding teeth or molars in the back of the 
mouth, like a pavement of small, rounded pebbles, 
for crushing the shells of mollusks. 

Archosargus probatocephalus. The Sheepshead. Body short, deep, 
and compressed, with large scales; head 3I ; depth 2 to 2^; 
eye 4; D. XII, 10 or 12; A. Ill, 10 or 11; scales 8-48-15; 
mouth large, nearly horizontal, maxillary 2f in head ; incisors f, 
entire in adult ; molars in 3 series above and 2 below ; gill- 
rakers about 3 + 6 ; dorsal and anal spines notably heteracan- 
thous ; frontal bone between the eyes convex and honeycombed ; 
occipital crest broad and honeycombed. 

Stenotomus chrysops. The Scup. Body ovate-elliptical ; head 3J ; 
depth 2; eye 4; D. XII, 12; A. Ill, 11 ; scales 8-50-16; pro- 
file steep ; nape convex ; a strong depression in front of the eye ; 
snout short ; temporal crest obsolete ; incisor teeth narrow ; 
molars in 2 rows above ; gill-rakers small, about 6 + 10 ; caudal 
fin forked ; top of head, snout, orbitals, and chin naked ; a scaly 
sheath at base of soft dorsal and anal fins ; scales on cheeks. 
251 



252 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

THE SHEEPSHEAD 

(^Archosargus probatocephalus) 

In his account of the fishes in the vicinity of 
New York, in 1 788, Schopf, a surgeon in the Brit- 
ish army, placed the sheepshead in the European 
genus Sparus, but gave it no specific name. 
From his description the ichthyologist Walbaum, 
in 1792, named it probatocephalus, which being 
translated means "sheep head." This fish in- 
habits the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Cape 
Cod to Texas, where it is common during the 
summer months, but it is especially abundant in 
the bays of Florida during the entire year. Its 
body is nearly half as deep as long, is much com- 
pressed, and elevated and arched over the shoul- 
der. The head is large, about a third of the 
length of the body, with a steep profile, rounded 
in front of the eyes, which with its incisor teeth 
bears a slight resemblance to the profile of a 
sheep. The mouth is large, with strong incisor 
teeth in front, and several series of molar teeth 
in both jaws. The general tint is dusky gray, 
with silvery lustre, paling to the belly; about 
half a dozen broad, black bars cross the body, 
from above downward, very distinct in the young, 
but becoming fainter with age. 



\ 



The Sheepshead Family 253 



As might be inferred from the character of its 
teeth, the sheepshead resorts to mussel shoals, 
oyster bars, bridge piers, and old wrecks, where 
mussels and barnacles abound, and on which it 
feeds, pinching them from their beds with its 
strong incisor teeth and crushing them with its 
molars. It is gregarious, feeding in schools, 
especially in southern waters, several hundred 
having been taken on a single tide at places in 
Florida. It appears in northern waters in June 
and disappears in the fall, probably wintering at 
great depths of the sea contiguous to the coast. 
Its usual maximum weight in northern waters is 
from three to six pounds, though occasionally 
reaching ten, fifteen, or even twenty pounds, 
though these heavy fish are exceedingly rare. Its 
average size in Florida is less than in the North. 

It is highly esteemed on the East Coast as a 
dinner fish, baked or boiled, and owing to its fine 
flavor has been called the turbot of America, 
though it is really much superior, in northern 
waters, to that vaunted aldermanic delicacy. In 
F^lorida, however, it is very lightly esteemed as 
a food-fish, and is seldom eaten where other and 
better fishes are available. Perhaps its abun- 
dance has something to do with its depreciation, 



254 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

though I am convinced, from numerous trials 
and tests, that it is not so good a fish in southern 
waters as in the North, having a sharp, saline 
taste that is not agreeable to most palates. 
While confined to salt and brackish waters in the 
North, it often ascends the rivers of Florida to 
fresh water. I have seen it in the large springs, 
the head waters of several rivers on the Gulf coast, 
its barred sides being plainly discernible on the 
bottom at a depth of fifty or seventy-five feet, in 
the clear and crystal-like water. 

The difference in flavor between the sheeps- 
head of the North and South may perhaps be due 
to the character of their food. It is especially 
noticeable that fishes of the salt water that pass 
the winter season in the deep sea, as the salmon, 
shad, etc., possess a more superior flavor than 
those that feed constantly and during the entire 
year along the shores. While nothing is really 
known concerning the spawning habits of the 
sheepshead in northern waters, it probably spawns 
in early summer. From my own knowledge I 
can say that it spawns in Florida, on the Gulf 
coast, during March and April. Its eggs are 
very small, about thirty to the inch, are buoyant 
or floating, and hatch in two days. 



H 



\ 



The Steeps bead Family 255 

A good rod for sheepshead fishing is the 
natural bamboo rod, known as the striped-bass 
chum rod. It is light, and strong enough to 
withstand the vicious tugs, spurts, and especially 
the propensity of boring toward the bottom, that 
is characteristic of this fish. A rod of steel, or 
lancewood, or ash and greenheart, or bethabara, 
though heavier, is better and stronger. It should 
be about eight feet in length, with double guides. 
A multiplying reel carrying sixty yards of braided 
linen line, size E or F, Sproat hooks, Nos. i-o to 
3-0 on gimp snells, with sinkers, and a wide- 
mouthed landing-net, make up the rest of the 
tackle. The short barb, with cutting edges, of 
the Sproat hook renders it superior to the Vir- 
ginia, Chestertown, or blackfish hooks formerly 
so much in vogue for the sheepshead. A brass 
box-swivel is necessary for connecting the line 
with the snell of the hook. 

While the sheepshead often bites at all stages 
of the tide, the most favorable time is about slack 
water ; from that stage, to half flood or half ebb, 
good success may usually be expected. The 
largest fish are taken from a boat anchored over 
or near mussel shoals or oyster beds. Smaller 
ones can be caught from old wharves or bridges 



256 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

whose piling is studded with barnacles and mus- 
sels, and about which shrimp abound. During 
slack water a light sinker is sufficient ; but when 
the tide runs strongly, heavier ones must be used, 
as it is imperative to keep the bait near the 
bottom, especially if fishing from a boat. If fish- 
ing from a wharf, it does not matter so much, pro- 
vided the bait is deep enough to prevent the fish 
from seeing the angler. While this is a precau- 
tion that must be observed with all fishes, I do 
not think the sheepshead is so shy a fish as some 
maintain ; at least I have never found it so. 

The best bait is shedder-crab, fiddlers, or 
hermit crabs. Clam bait, though, is cheaper 
and more universally used in the North. In 
Florida the fiddlers can be scooped up by the 
peck on the inside beaches of the bays, and 
contiguous to good sheepshead fishing. If the 
clam is large, the meat should be cut up for 
bait; but if quite small, or if mussels are used, 
the shells may be merely cracked or smashed, 
and put on the hook entire. The latter is the 
mode where the fish are scarce or shy, but I 
prefer to use the meat only, discarding the shells; 
in the case of fiddlers, when very small, they 
should be used au naturel, or whole. 



The Steeps head Family 257 

The bait should be cast and allowed to sink, 
and the line reeled enough to keep the bait 
off the bottom, but close to it. A taut line 
should be maintained always, so as to feel the 
slightest nibble. If crab bait, or cut clam, is 
used, the fish should be hooked, if possible, at 
the first bite, however slight, by a quick and 
somewhat vigorous upward jerk of the tip, other- 
wise the sheepshead is apt to nip off the bait; 
or if sufftcient force is not used, the hook fails 
to enter the well-armed mouth. One or other 
of these contingencies is almost sure to follow, 
if the fish be not hooked. A small sheepshead is 
a more adroit stealer of bait than the cunner. It 
has a way of deftly pinching the bait from the 
hook without much, if any, disturbance. When 
small clams or mussels are used in the cracked 
shells, it is thought best by some anglers to 
give the fish a little time to "shuck" the bait 
before jerking on the rod. But my advice is 
to yank him just as quickly as if crab bait were 
employed. To hesitate is to be defrauded of 
either the fish or the bait. 

When the fish is hooked he should be kept 
from the bottom by the spring of the rod, and 
brought as near the surface as possible. When 



258 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

line is given during his frantic rushes, the spring 
and resistance of the rod should never be les- 
sened. Once on the surface he is easily kept 
there until conquered ; but if allowed to descend 
to the bottom, he is pretty hard to manage, as 
his resistance then is very much greater, and he 
endeavors to tear out the hook by forcing his 
jaws among the rocks and debris or weeds. He 
should always be taken into the landing-net, and 
care must be observed to avoid his strong and 
sharp fins when removing the hook. 

In Florida the sheepshead is almost gregarious, 
congregating about oyster bars, old wharves, and 
near inlets in great numbers. At Colonel Sum- 
merlin's wharf, at Punta Rassa, I knew of a man, 
fishing for market, I presume, who took several 
hundred on a single tide. The wharf just across 
the bay at Sanibel Island is also a famous locality 
for sheepshead. The largest I ever caught in 
that state was just inside of Little Gasparilla 
inlet, near a steep bank on the north side. The 
settlers of Florida take them in cast-nets, and the 
commercial fishermen in haul seines ; the latter 
either ship them on ice, or salt them along with 
mullet, as they take salt well. With the excep- 
tion of the mullet, the sheepshead is the most 



The S beeps head Family 259 

abundant fish of both the east and west coasts 
of Florida, but it is seldom found in the dense 
salt water along the keys at the southern end 
of the peninsula, as it is essentially a brackish- 
water fish. The angler need never repine for 
a lack of sport in the " flowery state " if he is fond 
of " sheepsheading," and he will have no difficulty 
in securing bait, for the fiddlers are to be found in 
myriads convenient to good fishing grounds. 

THE SCUP 

{Stenotomus chrysops) 

Another fish of the SparidcE family is the scup, 
or porgy, which was first described by Linnaeus, 
in 1 766, from specimens sent to him from South 
Carolina by Dr. Garden. He named it chrysops, 
or " golden eye." The names scup and porgy are 
derived from the Indian name scuppaug. The 
porgy is mentioned, like the cunner, in deference 
to the ladies and the rising generation of anglers, 
to whom it is fair game on the summer excur- 
sions to the seashore. It is confined to the At- 
lantic coast from Cape Cod to South Carolina, 
being especially abundant in northern waters. 
A kindred species, the fair maid [Stenotomus 
aculeatus), is common from Cape Hatteras south- 



26o Bass, Pike, and Perch 

ward, there taking the place of the northern 
scup. 

The porgy is a short, deep, and compressed 
fish, rather elHptical in outhne, its depth being 
nearly half of its length, and with the back 
elevated over the nape. Its head is of moderate 
size, with a steep profile, depressed in front of 
the small eye. The mouth is rather small and 
the snout short. Its incisor teeth are very nar- 
row and rather conical or pointed, resembling 
canines ; there are two rows of molar teeth in 
the upper jaw. The color is brownish on the 
top of the head and back with greenish and 
golden reflections, and bright and silvery below ; 
the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are dusky or 
mottled, and the pectoral fin yellowish. 

The scup appears along the shores of the East 
Coast about the first of May, sometimes earlier, 
and continues until late in the fall, when it retires 
to its winter quarters in the depths of the sea. It 
is a bottom fish, feeding on crustaceans and small 
mollusks, and is found wherever they abound on 
the outer shoals. It usually spawns in June ; the 
eggs are quite small, measuring about twenty-five 
to the inch ; they are buoyant or floating, and 
hatch in four or five days. When perfectly 



The S beeps head Family 261 

fresh it is an excellent pan-fish, its flesh being 
firm, white, flaky, and of a fine, sweet flavor, but 
owing to its abundance is not properly appre- 
ciated. It grows to a foot or more in length, 
weighing a pound or two, though its usual maxi- 
mum length is ten inches, and weight half a pound. 
Very rarely the oldest fish sometimes reach a 
length of fifteen to eighteen inches, weighing 
from two to four pounds. 

The scup is usually taken by hand-line and 
clam bait on the fishing banks from the excur- 
sion steamers; but fishing from small boats 
anchored over the shoals, with suitable tackle, 
is more sportsmanlike. It is a very free-biting 
fish, but is not possessed of much gameness, 
though the pleasure of angling for it is much 
enhanced by the employment of light tackle. 

A trout bait-rod is quite in order for the scup, 
though a light natural cane rod about ten feet 
long, fitted with reel seat and guides, will answer 
a good purpose. A small multiplying reel is not 
essential, though it is an advantage in accommo- 
dating the line to different depths ; and then a 
larger fish than the scup may be hooked. The 
line should be of small size, Sproat hooks Nos. 6 
to 8 on gut snells, with leader three feet long, 



262 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

connected to the line by a swivel-sinker, and of a 
weight adapted to the strength of the tide. A 
lloat may be used in shallow water to keep the 
bait from the bottom when clam or shrimp is 
used. In localities where tautog, sea-bass, or 
weakfish are likely to be met with, a heavier rod, 
like the Little Giant, or a light striped-bass 
rod, may be of an advantage to one not accus- 
tomed to lighter rods, and the hook may be a 
trifle larger. 



CHAPTER XIII 

GUNNER, FLOUNDER, SMELT 

Tautogolabrus adspersus. The Gunner. Family LabridcE, the 
Wrasse fishes. Body oblong, not elevated, slender and com- 
pressed, with cycloid scales ; lateral line well developed ; 
mouth moderate, terminal ; premaxillaries protractile ; maxil- 
laries without supplemental bone, slipping under edge of pre- 
orbital ; head pointed ; snout moderate ; maxillary reaching 
front of eye ; preopercle serrate ; opercles scaly ; interopercle 
naked; head 3| ; depth 3J ; D. XVIII, 10; A. Ill, 9; scales 
6-46-12 ; 5 canines in front of upper jaw, about 4 in the lower ; 
bands of small concave teeth behind canines ; preopercle with 
5 rows of small scales ; opercle with 4 rows, rest of head naked ; 
gill-rakers very short, about 6 -|- 1 1 . 

Pseudopleuronectes americamis. The Flatfish or Flounder. Family 
Pleuronectidce, the Flatfishes. Head 4; depth 2-J ; D. 65 ; A. 
48 ; scales 83 ; body elliptical, an angle above the eye ; head 
covered above with imbricated ctenoid scales, blind side of head 
nearly naked ; body dextral ; teeth compressed, incisor-like, 
widened toward tips, closely set, forming a continuous cutting 
edge ; right side of each jaw toothless ; highest dorsal rays less 
than length of pectorals, and more than half the length of head ; 
anal spines present. 

Osmerus mordax. The Smelt. The American smelt belongs to the 
family Argentinida. The body is long and slender ; head 4 ; 
depth 6^; eye 4; D. 10; A. 15; P. 13; scales 68; head and 
mouth large; small teeth along the edge of the maxillary; 
strong, fanglike teeth on tongue and front of vomer ; cardiform 
teeth on palatines, pterygoids, and hyoid bone ; mandible with 
263 



264 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

moderate teeth, its tip projecting ; maxillary reaching middle of 
eye ; scales deciduous ; dorsal fin rather posterior, the ventrals 
under its front. 



THE CUNNER 

(Tautogolabriis adspersus) 

The cunner was named adspersus, meaning 
"besprinkled," by Walbaum, in 1792, from the 
description of Schopf, who simply gave its com- 
mon name, burgall, in his " History of New York 
Fishes," in 1 788. Its specific name is in allusion 
to the fancied mottled markings. It belongs to 
the LabridcB family. Its habitat is the North 
Atlantic coast from Labrador to Sandy Hook, 
not appearing much farther south. 

The cunner is known by various other names, 
as burgall, chogset, blue-perch, etc. It has an 
oblong and rather robust body, its depth being 
about a third of its length. Its head is about 
as long as the depth of the body and pointed, 
with a mouth of moderate size, well filled with 
unequal, conical, and sharp teeth, in several 
series. 

The coloration is variable, though usually bluish, 
more or less mixed with bronze or brown, with 
brassy sides and pale belly; sometimes brassy 
spots on the head and back ; young examples 




THE FLOUNDER 
Pseudopleuronectes americanus 




THE SMELT 
Osmei'us mordax 




THE SPANISH MACKEREL 

Scomberomorus maculatus 



Cunner, Flounder, Smelt 265 

exhibit dark blotches and markings. It resorts 
to the same feeding grounds as the tautog, and 
about old wharves and bridges where shrimp and 
barnacles abound, and in such situations is always 
abundant. It spawns in the early summer, about 
June. Its eggs are small, about twenty-five to 
the inch, and hatch in four or five days. It 
grows to about a pound in weight, though it 
usually does not exceed half that amount. 

While it is generally considered worthless, or 
at best a poor food-fish, it is really a pretty fair 
pan-fish, and if it were not so common would be 
found oftener on the table of fish lovers. As a 
game-fish it is anathema with most anglers. It 
is despised because it responds so readily to the 
angler's lures, taking the bait intended for larger 
and more desirable fish. But on this very ac- 
count it is ever dear to the heart of the juvenile 
fisherman, who glories in his string of cunners 
with as much pride and enthusiasm as his larger 
brothers with their tautog, sea-bass, or striped- 
bass. 

It can be caught with almost any kind of tackle 
or bait. The cunner has no particular vanity in 
the way of either. A piece of liver on an un- 
gainly hook and twine string is as welcome as 



266 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

the choicest shrimp on one of Harrison's best 
Sproat hooks on a snell of the finest silkworm 
fibre. My heart goes out to the boy angler with 
his cane pole and cut-bait, fishing for cunners. 
And should he in time become the most finished 
salmon fisher, he will look back to his cunner 
days as conducive of more real pleasure than any 
he may have found since. The cunner is here 
recorded for the urchin with the cane pole. 

THE FLOUNDER 

{Pseudopieuronectes am erica n us) 

There are quite a number of flounders, or flat- 
fishes, on the East Coast, but the one best known 
to juvenile anglers is the one with the long name 
recorded above. It belongs to the flatfish family 
Ple7ironcctid(c, and was noticed by Schopf as early 
as 1 788, and from his description was named by 
Walbaum Pleuroncctes americaiius, which means, 
literally, " the American side-swimmer." It in- 
habits the North Atlantic coast from Labrador 
to the Chesapeake Bay, and is abundant in all 
the bays and estuaries of the Middle states, where 
it is variously known as flatfish, flounder, winter 
flounder, mud-dab, etc. 

Its body is elliptical in outline, about twice as 



Cunner, Fbunder, Smelt 267 

long as broad, and very much compressed or flat. 
The head is small, less than a fourth of the length 
of the body, with a small mouth containing 
closely set, incisor-like teeth. As usual with all 
of the flatfishes, the dorsal and anal fins are very 
long, horizontally, the color on the exposed or 
right side is rusty brown, obscurely mottled, with 
the under or left side white. 

The flounder is partial to sheltered coves and 
quiet bays, preferring bottoms of sand or mud, 
though sometimes it is found in rocky situations. 
It is sedentary in its habits, partially burying 
itself in the sand or mud, where it remains during 
the entire year, feeding on minute shells, crusta- 
ceans, worms, etc. 

It spawns in the spring, during March and 
April. The eggs are very small, about thirty to 
the inch ; and unlike those of most marine fishes 
they do not float, but are heavy enough to sink, 
forming bunches or clusters on the bottom, ad- 
hering to the weeds, etc., where they hatch in 
from two to three weeks. The fry swim upright, 
like other fishes, with an eye on each side of the 
head, but as they grow older they incline to one 
side, the under eye moving gradually to the upper 
side, so that at the age of three or four months 



268 B.jss, Pike, and Perch 

both eves are on the upper side, as the result 
of a twisting of the bones of the head. The 
right side, being constantly exposed to the 
light, becomes darker or colored, while the 
left side, being deprived of light, becomes pure 
white. 

It is an excellent food-fish, its flesh being firm, 
white, and of good flavor ; and as it is easily pro- 
cured in winter when other fishes are compara- 
tively scarce, it is a favorite at that season. It 
rarely grows to more than a foot in length or a 
pound in weight. As it can be caught in early 
spring, late fall, and winter, when other fishes are 
absent or not inclined to bite, the angler with 
light tackle may obtain considerable sport with 
this fish, as it will eagerly take almost any kind of 
natural bait. A bait-rod used for trout or black- 
bass or a light cane rod can be utilized, with very 
fine linen line, a three-foot leader, and hooks 
Nos. 7 or S, on gut snells; a reel is not necessary, 
but is convenient. Using as light a sinker as pos- 
sible, with clam or sandworm bait, the angler may 
be assured of success. The fishing may be done 
from a boat anchored at low tide on muddy or 
grassy flats, or from wharves or piers favorably 
located. 



Cunner, Flounder, Smelt 269 

THE SMELT 

{Osmerus nwrdax) 

The smelts were formerly classed with the 
salmon family, but arc now placed in a separate 
one, Argentinidcs, in which are included a num- 
ber of allied species. To all external appear- 
ances the smelt is a true salmonid, and differs 
from the trouts and salmon chiefly in the form of 
the stomach and its appendages. The American 
or Atlantic smelt was first described by Dr. 
Mitchill, in 18 15, from the vicinity of New York; 
he named it mordax, or "biting." Its habitat is 
along the Atlantic coast from the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence to Virginia, but it is most abundant 
northward. It is landlocked in a number of 
northern lakes. 

The smelt is a very pretty, graceful fish, with 
a long, slender body, long, pointed head, and large 
mouth, with a somewhat projecting lower jaw. 
The small adipose fin, which is peculiar to all of 
the salmonids, is situated far back, opposite the 
end of the anal fin ; the caudal fin is deeply 
forked. Its color is pale olive-green above, silvery 
below, translucent, with an obscure, longitudinal, 
broad, satin-like band along the sides. The fins 
are greenish, with a few punctulations. 



270 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

The smelt enters the tidal rivers and brackish 
bays in the fall and winter in countless myriads, 
preparatory to spawning. It feeds principally on 
the small fry of other fishes, mostly at night, and 
along the shores in shallow water. It spawns in 
March, in both fresh and brackish water. The 
eggs are small, about twenty to the inch, and are 
adhesive. A medium-sized fish yields fifty thou- 
sand eggs, which hatch in two or three weeks, ac- 
cording to the temperature of the water, though 
usually in from sixteen to eighteen days. Though 
small, it is highly prized as a food-fish, having a 
delicate and delicious flavor. When fresh it 
emits an odor resembling that of cucumbers. Its 
usual size is from five to nine inches and weigh- 
ing from two to four ounces, though occasionally 
reaching a foot or more in length. The smaller 
fish are more prized, the largest having a rank 
oily flavor. It is caught in large seines by fisher- 
men and shipped fresh to the markets, and in 
winter is taken in great numbers with hook and 
line through the ice. 

Smelt fishing is a very popular pastime along 
the East Coast in the fall and winter, as it is at a 
time when not many other fishes are to be caught. 
In the inland lakes it is, as has just been men- 



Cunner, Fbunder, Smelt 271 

tioned, caught with hook and line through holes 
cut in the ice ; but this is tame sport compared 
with fishing in open water with very light tackle. 
The angler can utilize his trout fly- or bait-rod, or 
if he prefers, a very light natural cane rod eight 
or ten feet long. A reel is not necessary. The 
line should be of the smallest size, linen or silk, 
though silk lines soon rot in salt water. A fine 
leader three or four feet long, with hooks Nos. 3 
to 6, on single gut snells, are next in order. 
When the fish are swimming in schools near the 
surface, especially at night, a sinker need not be 
used; under other circumstances, and when the 
tide is strong, one of suitable weight should be 
added. The fishing is usually best on the flood 
tide, and almost any kind of bait will answer; but 
shrimp is best, though sandworms, very small min- 
nows, or even earthworms are useful. Given the 
proper time and place, and with tackle and bait 
in readiness, it only remains to cast the baited 
hook, retrieve the fish, and so on ad znjinitum. 



CHAPTER XIV 

THE MACKEREL FAMILY 
(^Sco/fibridir) 

The fishes of this family are all pelagic, and 
most of them are highly valued for food. They 
are characterized by an elongate body, more or 
less compressed ; pointed head ; large mouth ; 
sharp teeth ; two dorsal fins ; the anal and second 
dorsal fins arc similar in shape and size, and 
both are followed by detached finlets; the caudal 
fin is widely forked or falcate, its pedicle very 
slender and with a sharp keel ; scales small and 
smooth. 

Scomberomortis viaculatits. The Spanish MackereL Body elongate, 
covered with rudimentary scales, which do not form a distinct 
corselet ; head pointed, short and small ; mouth wide ; strong 
teeth in jaws, knife-shaped ; sandlike teeth on vomer and pala- 
tines ; gill-rakers 2 -|- 1 1 ; caudal peduncle with a single keel ; 
head 4i; depth 4|; D. XVII-18-IX; A. II-17-IX; eye 4J ; 
soft dorsal inserted in advance of anal, somewhat ; lateral line 
undulating, with about 175 pores; spots bronze. 

Scomberomorus regalis. The Cero. Body rather elongate, its dorsal 
and ventral curves about equal ; mouth large, maxillary reaching 
to below the eye ; angle of preopercle produced backward ; pec- 
272 



The Mackerel Family 273 

torals scaly ; caudal less widely forked than tnaculatus ; teeth 
triangular, compressed, about 40 in each jaw ; pectorals scaly ; 
spots and stripes brownish; head 4\; depth 4^ ; D. XVII -I, 
15-VIII; A. II, 14-VIII. 
Sarda sarda. The Bonito. Body elongate, moderately compressed, 
robust; head 3!}; depth 4; D. XXI-I, 13-VIII ; A.I, 13-VII; 
P. 10 ; scales small, those of the pectoral region forming a dis- 
tinct corselet ; teeth moderate, slightly compressed, about 40 in 
each jaw ; mouth large, maxillary reaching beyond orbit ; lateral 
line slightly undulating, with nowhere a decided curve. 



THE SPANISH MACKEREL 

{^Scomber omor us tnaculatus) 

The Spanish mackerel was first described by 
Dr. Mitchill, in 181 5, from the vicinity of New 
York. He named it tnaculatus, or "spotted," 
owing to the large bronze spots on its sides. 

It is common to the southern portions of the 
Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Gulf of Mex- 
ico, ranging in summer as far north as Cape Cod, 
and is one of the trimmest and most graceful 
fishes known, as well as one of the most beautiful 
both in form and coloration. It is especially 
adapted for rapid and sustained motion. Its 
long, graceful, and elliptical body is four times its 
depth. The head is as long as the depth of the 
body, with a large mouth, and sharp, lancet-shaped 
teeth in both jaws. It has two dorsal fins; the 
second dorsal and anal fins are nearly opposite 



274 B^ss, Pike, and Perch 

each other, are similar in outline, and are each 
followed by nine detached finlets; the caudal fin 
is widely forked, the lobes being long and pointed 
or crescent-shaped. Its color is silvery, bluish or 
greenish above, paling to white on the belly, with 
iridescent reflections; the sides are dotted with 
some thirty bronze or golden spots, a fourth of an 
inch or more in diameter; the first dorsal fin is 
dark in front, whitish behind ; the second dorsal 
is yellowish ; the anal fin is pale ; the pectoral 
fin is yellow, bordered with black ; the caudal fin 
is dusky. 

The Spanish mackerel is gregarious and migra- 
tory, swimming in large schools, and feeding at 
the surface on pilchards, anchovies, and sardines 
in Florida, and on silversides and menhaden in 
northern waters. When feeding, the schools are 
constandy leaping above the surface, and the 
flashing of their silvery forms in the bright sun- 
light is a beautiful and inspiriting sight, enhanced 
by the flocks of gulls and terns whirling and dart- 
ing above the schools, eager for such stray mor- 
sels and fragments as they are able to seize. In 
the Gulf of Mexico it often feeds in company 
with the salt-water trout, and in northern waters 
with the bluefish and weakfish. 



The Mackerel Family 275 

It is a fish of the warm seas, approaching the 
shores for spawning and feeding when the tem- 
perature becomes suitable. It appears on the 
Gulf coast of Florida in March and April, 
though I have observed it as early as January 
in forward seasons. Its advent on the Atlantic 
coast is later, progressing gradually northward, 
reaching the vicinity of New York in July and 
August, and disappearing in October or Novem- 
ber. Its breeding season in the Gulf of Mexico 
is in the early spring, and as late as August or 
September at the northern extent of its range. 
Its spawning may cover a period of many weeks, 
as the fish do not all mature at one and the same 
time. The eggs are quite small, about twenty- 
five to the inch, float at the surface, and hatch in 
a single day. The newly hatched fry are very 
small, about the tenth of an inch long, but in a 
year will have attained a length of six inches. 
The average weight of a mature fish is from two 
to four pounds, rarely exceeding six or eight 
pounds. 

The Spanish mackerel is held in the highest 
esteem as a food-fish, being considered one of the 
very best, second only to the pompano of the Gulf 
or the whitefish of the Great Lakes. It has a 



276 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

mackerel flavor, but one peculiarly its own for 
richness and sapidity of savor. It is a game-fish 
of high degree, and worthy of the angler's high- 
est regard. Its manner of fighting, when hooked, 
is mostly on the surface of the water, darting 
here and there with dazzling rapidity, in straight 
and curving lines, leaping into air, and bounding 
over the water with a velocity and nimbleness 
that is difficult to follow with the eye in the 
bright sunlight. 

In northern waters it is usually taken by troll- 
ing with a small mother-of-pearl squid, or one of 
block tin, using a long hand-line, as the fish is 
rather shy and difficult to approach with a boat. 
In Florida, however, great sport can be had with 
a light rod, both in fly-fishing and bait-fishing, 
from the sand-spits at the entrance to deep inlets, 
and from the long piers and wharves that extend 
to deep water. The angling is done in March 
and April, when the fish are running into the bays 
in great schools on the flood tide, often in com- 
pany with the salt-water trout. 

A black-bass or trout fly-rod of seven or eight 
ounces is very suitable for fly-fishing, with a click 
reel and a braided linen line of pretty large size, 
say D or E, in order to give weight enough for 



The Mackerel Family 277 

casting. The enamelled silk line is, of course, 
better, but it does not last long in salt water. 
Any bright or gaudy fly will answer, on hooks 
Nos. I to 3, though yellowish or grayish flies are 
perhaps more attractive. A single fly only 
should be used, with a three or four foot leader. 
Black-bass rods and tackle are just right for bait- 
fishing for the Spanish mackerel, except that a 
braided linen line, and not a silk line, should be 
used for reasons just given. The best bait is a 
small, bright fish, three or four inches long, either 
mullet or anchovy, hooked through the lips. A 
small pearl squid, or a very small trolling-spoon 
or spinner, may be used instead, but the minnow 
is far and away the most attractive lure. 

The bait is cast as far as possible toward the 
school as it is running past the point of an inlet 
or the end of a pier, and reeled in slowly, but 
rapidly enough to keep the bait on or near the 
surface, no sinker being employed. If the fishing 
is done from a pier, a very long-handled landing- 
net must be provided. The best plan is to fish 
from a small boat moored to the pier, as the 
angler is not so likely to be seen by the fish, and 
they are more easily landed. The same method 
is pursued in fly-fishing in the general features, 



278 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

except that the fly is allowed to sink after flutter- 
ing it awhile on the surface ; no other special 
suggestions are needed. I have found the follow- 
ing flies useful: gray drake, green drake, red 
ibis, oriole, professor, and silver doctor, in black- 
bass patterns, on hooks Nos. i to 3. 

THE CERO 

{Scomberomorus regalis) 

The cero, or sierra, was described by Bloch, in 
1795, from a drawing of a specimen from the 
West Indies, by Plumier. He named it regalis, 
meaning " royal " or " regal." It belongs to the 
West Indian fauna of fishes, and is common from 
Florida to Brazil. Occasionally it strays in the 
summer as far north as Massachusetts. It is 
closely allied to the Spanish mackerel, and re- 
sembles it in form, but differs very much in color- 
ation and size, being more sombre and much 
larger. Its color is brownish on the back, with 
silvery sides and belly ; it is marked with two 
dusky longitudinal stripes, and several rows of 
dark spots, not bronze or golden as in the Spanish 
mackerel. 

I have met with the cero only along the Florida 
reefs and keys. It does not swim in such large 



The Mackerel Family 279 

schools as the Spanish mackerel, and does not 
accompany it in its wanderings into the bays or 
along the shores, but seeks the same localities, 
and is of similar habits, as the kingfish-mackerel. 
It feeds entirely on fishes. Its breeding habits 
have not been studied, though they are doubtless 
not unlike those of the Spanish mackerel, except 
as to the locality and season of depositing its 
eggs. Its usual weight is five or six pounds, 
though it sometimes grows to five feet in length 
and twenty pounds or more in weight. 

I have taken it with bone and block-tin squids, 
trolling from a yacht, and also from an anchored 
boat with rod and line, by casting mullet or 
sardines for bait. A striped-bass rod and tackle 
are suitable, as it is a strong and powerful fish, 
making extraordinary leaps when hooked. For 
its weight I know of no gamer fish, but my expe- 
rience in rod-fishing has been somewhat limited, 
being confined to the capture of half a dozen fish. 

I was once yachting along the Florida keys, 
and while anchored near Bahia Honda I put 
off in the dinghy to cast mullet bait for cero 
and kingfish [Scomberomorus cavalld). The lat- 
ter is a near relative of the cero, and they re- 
semble each other so closely that it is often 



28o Bass, Pike, and Pcrcb 

difficult to distinguisli between them. The king- 
fiiili is rather more slender, the adult fish being of 
a uniform slaty hue, usually without spots or 
markings of any kind, and grows to a larger size, 
often to fifty pounds or more. It is fully de- 
scribed in another volume of this series. 

On the occasion referred to I captured a num- 
ber of kingfish and two ceros of about the same 
relative weight, from eight to ten pounds. The 
conditions were quite favorable to compare their 
gameness, but I was unable to perceive any dif- 
ference in this respect. Both fish took the bait 
with a rush, and when hooked exliibited game 
qualities of the highest order, leaping contin- 
uously and to a height of five or six feet. 
Their swift rushes, as they cut through the water 
with incredible swiftness, and for which they are 
especially built, were very trying to my light 
striped-bass rod. I lost a number of fish that 
shook out the hook when leaping. I used the 
Sproat bend, No. 7-0, but 5-0 would be large 
enough for the average-sized cero. My line was a 
braided linen, size E, to which the snelled hook 
was attached by a small brass box-swivel; but 
knobbed hooks, if they can be obtained of suit- 
able size, are to be preferred. 





THE BONITO 
Sarda sarda 



/^/^J^'yfy'-^/fyr^'^'W'* . 



'" \. 



''<^^Ss^' 



THE NIGGER-FISH 

Bodianus fulms 




THE POMPANO 
Trachinotus carolims 



The Mackerel Family 281 

The market fishermen of Key West troll for 
kingfish and cero in their schooner smacks, using 
coarse hand-laid cotton lines, and codfish or other 
large hooks as mentioned. The bait is usually 
a piece of white bacon-rind, cut in an elliptical 
shape to resemble a fish, and strung along the 
shank of the hook, and fastened at the top by a 
piece of fine copper wire. This rude device is 
very successful, as they take hundreds of fish in a 
few days, of a size running from ten to fifty 
pounds. The cero and the kingfish are favor- 
ite food-fishes in Key West, where large quanti- 
ties are consumed ; and years ago many were 
carried to Havana by the smacks, until a prohibi- 
tive duty was imposed by the Spanish governor- 
general, in order to favor Spanish fishermen. 
Under the changed conditions that now exist in 
Cuba this trade will doubtless be resumed. Both 
the cero and kingfish are excellent food-fishes, 
with a flavor much like that of the Spanish mack- 
erel, but more pronounced, — that is, not so deli- 
cate and delicious, but more pungent. 

Northern anglers who go to Florida in quest 
of the tarpon will find in the cero and king- 
fish game-fishes of great merit on light tackle. 



282 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

THE BONITO 

(^Sarda sardd) 

The bonito is a very handsome and gamy fish 
belonging to the mackerel family. It was named 
sarda by Bloch, in 1 793, from its being taken in 
the vicinity of Sardinia. It inhabits both coasts 
of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. 
It is not uncommon from the region of Cape Cod 
southward to Florida and the West Indies, where 
it is more abundant 

It has a long, graceful body, nearly round, its 
depth a fourth of its length. It is elliptical in 
outline, tapering to a very slender caudal pedicle, 
which is strongly keeled. The mouth is large, 
with strong, conical teeth. The caudal fin is 
deeply forked, or swallow-like. Its color is dark 
steel-blue above, silvery below, with white belly. 
There are numerous dark oblique stripes running 
from the back downward and forward, by which 
it is easily recognized. The ventral fins are 
whitish, the other fins are bluish black. 

The bonito is a pelagic fish, approaching the 
shores in search of food, which consists of small 
fishes almost entirely. It grows to a length of 
three or four feet, though it is usually taken of 



The Mackerel Family 283 

ten or twelve pounds in weight. It does not 
rank high as a food-fish, having rather dark flesh 
of a strong mackerel flavor, rather too pungent to 
be agreeable, but it is liked generally by sailors. 
There is another fish of the Atlantic coast 
{Gymnosarda pela^nis), of the mackerel family, 
that is known as the oceanic bonito. It may be 
distinguished by its stripes being horizontal, 
instead of oblique ; it is rather rare. 

The bonito is taken only by trolling with a 
small fish for bait, or a block-tin, bone, or shell 
squid, from a sailing vessel, and with bluefish 
tackle. It is frequently caught by the Key West 
fishermen when trolling for kingfish with a bait 
of bacon-rind. It is a powerful fish, and withal a 
very game one, being a swift swimmer, and must 
be handled very carefully when hooked. The 
line should be a heavy one of braided linen or 
cotton, and a foot or two of brass or copper wire 
should be used as a snell to withstand its sharp 
and numerous teeth. A Sproat or O'Shaugh- 
nessy hook. No. 7-0, is about right when bait is 
used, and one of similar size with artificial squids, 
or spinners. 

I was once trolling in the vicinity of the Dry 
Tortugas, and in a short time took four bonitos 



284 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

of about twelve pounds each. As the yacht was 
going at a spanking rate with a beam wind, the 
strain on the line was tremendous, and in each 
case the vessel had to be luffed up into the wind 
to enable me to land them. As one fish was 
more than enough for the crew, and as I had 
occasion to land at Fort Jefferson, on Garden 
Key, I resolved to donate the others to the garri- 
son of the fortress. On going ashore I found 
the " garrison " to consist of one man, the corporal 
in charge of the property. He said he did not 
think he alone could get away with the fish, but 
as the lighthouse keeper of the fort would return 
from Loggerhead Key in the afternoon, he thought 
that they, together with his dog, might manage 
to dispose of them. Afterward he informed me 
that he and the light-keeper had finished one 
bonito, and the dog, whose name was Bonaparte, 
had made way with the others, or as he expressed 
it : " Bone eet two," and said this without any 
intent to pun on bon-i-to ; he thought that I was 
amused at the capacity of Bonaparte as an ichthy- 
ophagist, being unconscious of his play on the 
words which caused my merriment. 



CHAPTER XV 

THE GROUPER FAMILY 
(Serranidce) 

The fishes of this family are characterized by 
an oblong body, more or less compressed, covered 
with adherent scales of moderate or small size, 
which are usually ctenoid ; the dorsal and ventral 
outlines do not usually correspond ; premaxillaries 
protractile ; teeth all conical or pointed, in bands, 
present on jaws, vomer, and palatines ; pseudo- 
branchiae large ; gill-membranes separate, free 
from isthmus ; cheeks and opercles scaly ; pre- 
opercle usually serrate ; opercle ending in one or 
two flat spines ; lateral line not extending on the 
caudal fin ; lower pharyngeals narrow, with pointed 
teeth ; gill-rakers armed with teeth. 

Mycteroperca microlepis. The Gag. Body comparatively elongate 
and compressed; head 2^ ; depth 3^; eye 6; D. XI, 16 to 19; 
A. Ill, II ; scales 24-140-50; pores about 90; dorsal fin single, 
its spines slender and weak ; head long and pointed ; mouth 
large, the maxillary reaching beyond the eye ; teeth in narrow 
bands, each jaw with two canines; gill-rakers few, 12 on lower 
part of anterior arch ; scales very small, chiefly cycloid ; pre- 
285 



286 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

opercle with a shallow emargination above the angle, with radi- 
ating serrae ; caudal lunate ; lower jaw projecting. 
Mycteroperca falcata phenax. The Scamp. Body elongate ; head 
3; depth 3^^; D. XI, 18; A. Ill, 11 ; eye 5 ; scales 24-135-43; 
dorsal fin single, the spines slender and weak ; head pointed ; 
mouth large, the maxillary reaching posterior border of the eye ; 
teeth in narrow bands, each jaw with two strong canines, nearly 
vertical ; preopercle finely serrate, a notch above the angle ; scales 
mostly cycloid; outer rays of caudal produced. 
Mycteroperca venenosa. The Yellow-finned Grouper. Body elon- 
gate; head 3; depth 3^; eye 7; scales 24-i25-.r; D. XI, 16; 
A. Ill, II ; head rather blunt; mouth large, the maxillary reach- 
ing much beyond the eye; teeth in narrow bands, each jaw 
with two strong canines, not directed forward ; preopercle with- 
out salient angle, its emargination slight ; dorsal fin single, its 
spines not very weak ; caudal fin lunate ; anal rounded. 
Epinepheliis adscensionis. The Rock Hind. Body robust, little 
compressed ; head z\ ; depth 3 ; eye 6 ; scales 12-100-40 ; D. XI, 
17; A. 111,7; head subconic, acute ; anterior profile straight; 
mouth large, the maxillary reaching beyond the eye ; lower jaw 
strongly projecting ; teeth in broad bands, the canines short and 
stout, those of the lower jaw the largest ; preopercle finely ser- 
rate, convex, with but slight emargination ; scales strongly 
ctenoid ; dorsal fin single, its spines strong ; caudal fin slightly 
rounded ; gill-rakers short and thick. 
Epinepheliis guitat us. The Red Hind. Body rather slender, mod- 
erately compressed, the back somewhat elevated ; head 2\ ; 
depth 3^ ; eye 4J; scales 19-100-A'; D. XI. 16; A. Ill, 8; head 
long and pointed ; mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching be- 
low posterior margin of eye ; lower jaw rather weak, its tip little 
projecting ; teeth rather strong, in moderate bands, both jaws 
with two curved canines, those in upper jaw largest ; preopercle 
weakly serrate, with a salient angle, which is armed with 
stronger teeth ; caudal fin rounded. 
Petrof?tetopon critentatus. The Coney. Body oblong, rather deep 
and compressed; head 2^; depth 2| ; eye 5 ; scales 8-90-30 ; 
D. IX, 14; A. Ill, 8; head moderate, a little acute anteriorly, 
profile nearly straight ; mouth large, the maxillary reaching 



The Grouper Family 287 

beyond the eye; lower jaw not strongly projecting; teeth in 
narrow bands, the depressible teeth of the inner series very long 
and slender, those of the lower jaw and front of upper espe- 
cially enlarged, longer than the small, subequal canines ; pre- 
opercle convex, very weakly serrate, its posterior angle obliquely 
subtruncate, without salient angle or distinct emargination ; 
opercle with three distinct spines; scales rather large, and 
mostly strongly ctenoid; dorsal fin single, its spines rather 
slender and pungent ; anal fin rounded ; pectorals long ; caudal 
fin very convex. 
Bodmnusfulvies. The Nigger-fish. Body oblong, moderately com- 
pressed ; head 2|; depth 3; eye 5; scales 9-100-33; D. IX, 
14 to 16; A. Ill, 8 or 9; head rather pointed, with curved pro- 
file; mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching beyond the eye; 
lower jaw strongly projecting; teeth in narrow bands, rather 
large, the depressible teeth rather small, canines small, sub- 
equal ; preopercle with weak serrations, its outline convex, with 
a shallow emargination ; opercle with three distinct spines ; 
dorsal fin single, with slender and pungent spines ; scales rather 
large, mostly strongly ctenoid ; caudal fin truncate, its angles 
slightly rounded ; pectorals long ; ventrals short. 
Diplectrtiin fortnosiini. The Sand-fish. Body elongate, the profile 
strongly arched above the eyes ; head 3 ; depth 3^ ; eye 5 ; 
scales 9-85-22 ; mouth large, maxillary reaching middle of eye ; 
lower jaw slightly projecting; canine teeth small; preopercle 
finely serrate at upper margin ; preopercle with two clusters of 
divergent spines ; opercular flap short and sharp ; top of cranium 
smooth and very convex ; 1 1 rows of scales on cheeks ; fins, 
except caudal, scaleless ; 15 scales before dorsal; dorsal fin 
single, with low spines, the first three graduated; caudal deeply 
lunate, the upper lobe the longest, sometimes ending in a long 
filament. 

THE GAG 
{Mycteroperca microlepis) 

The gag is one of the series of fishes known 
as groupers in Florida, of which there are quite 



288 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

a number. It was first described by Goode and 
Bean, in 1879, from West Florida; they named 
it microlepis, or " small scale," as its scales are 
of less size than the other species of the same 
genus. It is known only from the South 
Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico, from 
North Carolina south to Pensacola. 

It has a rather long, shapely body, with pointed 
head and an evenly curved profile. Its mouth 
is large, with projecting lower jaw. Both jaws 
are armed with narrow bands of sharp teeth and 
two canines, the upper ones directed forward. 
The predominating hue of the gag is brownish 
or brownish gray, with lighter sides, in deep- 
water specimens; those of shallow water, espe- 
cially in grassy situations, are greenish or oliva- 
ceous, mottled with a darker shade, and more or 
less clouded. Very small and indistinct dusky 
spots sometimes cover the entire body, and a 
faint mustache is usually present. The dorsal 
fin is olive; the top of the soft dorsal fin rays 
is darker, with white edge ; the caudal fin is 
bluish black, with white edge. It is a voracious 
fish, feeding on small fishes and crustaceans, and 
grows to a large size ; twenty or thirty, or even 
fifty, pounds in weight is not uncommon, though 



The Grouper Family 289 

usually taken of from six to ten pounds. It 
resorts, when large, to the banks and rocky reefs 
in deep water. Those of less size frequent the 
inshore waters. It is a fine food-fish, and a very 
game one on the rod. 

A light striped-bass rod, or the natural bam- 
boo chum rod, with good multiplying reel and 
fifty yards of braided linen line, size E, and 
Sproat or O'Shaughnessy hooks, Nos. 3-0 or 4-0, 
on gimp snells, with a brass box-swivel for con- 
necting snell and line, and a sinker adapted to 
the strength of the tide, make up the tackle for 
the gag. A large landing-net or a gaff-hook 
should not be forgotten. 

Rod fishing is done in comparatively deep 
water on the rocky reefs or shelly banks along 
the keys, from an anchored boat. Any natural 
bait, as a small fish, crab, crawfish, or conch, will 
answer, though a small fish, as the mullet, sar- 
dine, or anchovy, is the best. When of large 
size the gag is a very gamy fish, and must be 
handled very carefully to preserve one's tackle 
intact. 

It is taken more frequently by trolling with a 
strong hand-line from a sailing yacht, in the 
same way as trolling for bluefish. A small 



290 ^^55, Pike, and Perch 

silvery fish is the best hire, though a strong 
spinner or a shell or block-tin squid answers well. 
Even a piece of bacon-rind cut in the semblance 
of a fish proves very attractive, in the manner 
conunonly used by the fishermen of Key West in 
trolling for the kingfish. 

The largest groupers can be taken on rocky 
bottom in the deep holes about the inlets. On 
the southeast coast, Indian River Inlet, under 
the mangroves, and Jupiter Inlet, both afford 
good grouper fishing. Farther south, at Hills- 
boro and New River inlets, and in the deep 
holes about the passes between the Florida Keys, 
from Cape Florida to Key West, groupers are 
more or less abundant. The first gag I ever 
caught was in the winter of 1877, while trolling 
off Cape Florida; it was a big one, too, weigh- 
ing about fifty pounds. "What is it? "asked a 
Kentucky boy who was with me. I was com- 
pelled to look it up in my books before replying 
that I thought it was a "scamp," as it agreed 
pretty well with the description of that grouper, 
though I was not fully satisfied that my identi- 
fication was correct, and less so, when in about 
an hour we caught a real scamp. This was 
some two years before the gag was described as 



The Grouper Family 291 

a new species by Drs. Goode and Bean, from 
Pensacola. As I had no means of preserving 
the fish, it was baked for our dinner, and proved 
to be very good indeed. 

In fishing for groupers the angler must keep 
them well in hand so as to prevent their getting 
into the holes and crevices of the rocks, as they 
are sure to do if given the chance, and from 
where it is almost impossible to dislodge them. 
They should be brought to the surface, or near 
it, as soon as possible after hooking them, and 
kept there until ready for the landing-net or 
gaff-hook. Most people in Florida fish for 
groupers with hand-lines, but with the tackle 
recommended the fish will be more easily sub- 
dued and landed, and the pleasure much enhanced, 
to say nothing of the question of sportsmanship 
as between the two methods. 

THE SCAMP 

{Mycteroperca falcata phenax) 

The scamp is a grouper that resembles very 
much the gag. It was first described by the 
Cuban ichthyologist Poey, in i860, from Cuban 
waters. He named it falcata, or "scythe-shaped," 
from the curving of the caudal fin. The form 



292 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

common to Florida is a variety or subspecies, 
that differs principally in the angle of the canine 
teeth and to some extent in coloration. The 
variety was first described by Jordan and Swain, in 
1884, who named it /-^^v/^f, meaning "deceptive," 
and equivalent to " scamp." It is abundant along 
the Florida Keys and the offshore "snapper 
banks," from Key West to Pensacola ; those of 
smaller size frequent inshore waters. 

It resembles the gag very much in its general 
appearance and in the shape of its body, with a 
somewhat larger mouth and more projecting lower 
jaw, also a larger caudal hn, which is more 
crescentic or scythe-shaped. The depth of its 
body is about a third of its length. The teeth 
are in narrow bands, with two canines in each 
jaw, but these are not so strong as in the Cuban 
form, and those in the upper jaw are not directed 
so much forward, nor the lower ones so much 
backward. The caudal fin is concave or cres- 
centic, and the scales are larger than those of 
the gag. The color is pinkish gray above, paler 
purplish gray below; the upper part of the body 
and head is covered with small, rounded, irregular 
dark brown spots ; the sides and caudal fin with 
larger and longer pale brownish blotches, some- 



The Grouper Family 293 

what reticulate; fins dusky, some edged with 
white. Its habits are similar to those of the gag, 
just described, in whose company it is found. 
It grows to a length of two feet or more, and 
to ten pounds or more in weight. 'J' he remarks 
concerning the tackle and fishing for the gag 
apply equally as well for the scamp. 

This fish, with the gag, is sometimes taken on 
the snapper banks by the red-snapper fishermen, 
though it is not shipped to the northern markets 
as it does not bear transportation so well as the 
red-snapper, and is sold for home consumption or 
eaten by the crews. I first saw this fish as has 
just been related, in 1877, when it was caught by 
a Kentucky friend, and it had very much the same 
appearance as the gag. We then decided that 
both fish were scamps, my friend remarking that 
" The only difference is that this fellow seems to 
be more of a scamp than the other one," an 
opinion I fully indorsed. The scamp does not 
stray so far north as the gag, being confined to 
subtropical regions. It is regularly taken to the 
Key West market by the commercial fisherman, 
where it commands a ready sale, being well 
esteemed as a food-fish. The first .specimens I 
afterward preserved were secured from this source. 



294 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



THE YELLOW-FINNED GROUPER 

{Mycteroperca venenosd) 

This grouper was first noticed by Catesby, in 
1743, from the Bahamas, and was named by 
Linnaeus, in 1758, who bestowed the specific title 
venenosa, or " venomous," as its flesh was said by 
Catesby to be poisonous at certain times. It is 
common at the Bahamas, and from the Florida 
Keys southward to the West Indies, and perhaps 
to South America. Its form is very similar to 
the gag and scamp; its depth is a third of its 
length. Its head is as long as the depth of the 
body, and rather blunt, with the profile somewhat 
uneven, but curved ; the mouth is large, with 
narrow bands of teeth, and two canines in each 
jaw which are not directed forward. 

Not much is known concerning this fish, as its 
flesh is reputed to be poisonous at times, and it 
is seldom eaten. 

Its coloration is quite varied and beautiful ; it 
is olive-green on the back, pearly bluish below, 
breast rosy. The upper parts are marked with 
broad reticulations and curved blotches of bright 
light green, which are especially distinct on the 
top of the head ; the entire body and head are 



The Grouper Family 295 

covered with orange-brown spots of various sizes 
with dark centres ; the iris of eye is orange, as is 
the inside of the mouth ; the dorsal fin is olive- 
brown, with whitish blotches and a few dark 
spots ; the pectoral fin is yellow, and all other fins 
have black edges. Its habits are similar to those 
of the other groupers. It grows to three feet in 
length, and frequents rocky situations. 

THE ROCK HIND 

{Epinephel2{s adscensionis) 

This grouper is one of the most bizarre and 
gayly colored in the family Serranidce. It was 
first accurately described by Osbeck, in 1757, 
from Ascension Island, which accounts for its 
specific name, adscensionis, as bestowed by him. 

It is very widely distributed over both hemi- 
spheres, being known from Ascension and St. 
Helena Islands, Cape of Good Hope, and is 
abundant from the Florida Keys to Brazil. In 
outline it resembles the other groupers, having 
a robust body, but little compressed ; its depth is 
a third of its length, its head is as long as the 
depth of the body, is pointed, with a profile 
straight from the snout to the nape, thence curved 
regularly to the tail. The mouth is large, with 



296 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

the lower jaw more prominent or projecting than 
in any of the other groupers ; the teeth are in 
broad bands, with short and stout canines. 

Its ground color is olivaceous gray, with darker 
clouds; the head and entire body are profusely 
covered with red or orange spots of varying size, 
those on the lower part of the body the largest, 
nearly as large as the pupil of the eye ; parts of 
the body and fins have irregularly-shaped, whitish 
spots or blotches ; there are several ill-defined, 
clouded, blackish, vertical, or oblique blotches 
across the body, some of them extending upward 
on to the dorsal fin, with the interspaces lighter; 
the fins are likewise spotted with red and white. 

The groupers known as " hinds," as the red, 
rock, brown, speckled, spotted, or John Paw hinds, 
are so named from being spotted, and resembling 
somewhat in this way the hind or female red deer. 
They are all good food-fishes, and are found 
regularly in the Key West market, though not 
so plentiful as the snappers, grunts, etc., but 
bringing a better price. The rock hind, as might 
be inferred from its name, frequents rocky situa- 
tions about the channels between the keys, 
feeding mostly on small fishes and marine in- 
vertebrates. It grows to a length of eighteen 



The Grouper Family 297 

inches. Its spawning habits have not been 
studied, though it probably spawns in the spring. 
A light bait-rod, similar to a black-bass rod, 
with corresponding tackle, with hooks Nos. 2-0 
to 3-0, on gimp snells, will answer for this fish, 
using sardines or anchovies, which are abundant 
along the shores, for bait. 

THE RED HIND 

(Jipinephelus giiltatus) 

This beautiful grouper rivals the rock hind in 
its gay and varied coloration. There is some 
uncertainty about the correct specific name of 
this well-marked species. The last name to be 
adopted \s guttatus, meaning "spotted," conferred 
by Linnaeus in 1758, based on the early and 
vague descriptions of Marcgrave and others on 
specimens from Brazil and the West Indies. It 
belongs to the West Indian fauna, its range ex- 
tending from the Florida Keys to South Amer- 
ica; it occasionally strays north in the summer 
to the Carolina coast. 

It resembles the other groupers in its general 
form, but is more slender, has a larger eye, and 
its lower jaw does not project so much. The 
depth of its body is a little more than a third of its 



298 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

length. Its head is long and pointed, considerably- 
longer than the depth of its body, with a mouth 
of moderate size, and a weak lower jaw, which pro- 
jects but slightly ; the eye is very large ; the teeth 
are in bands, with two curved canines in each. 

The pattern of the coloration and the markings 
are similar to those of the rock hind, but differ 
in color. The upper part of the body is grayish 
or yellowish olive, the belly reddish ; the entire 
head and body are profusely covered with scarlet 
spots of nearly uniform size, except those on the 
breast and belly, which are a little larger; there 
are a few spots, both red and whitish, on the bases 
of the fins ; there are three broad, oblique, obscure 
bands running upward and backward on the sides, 
extending on to the dorsal fin ; the upper fins are 
edged with black ; the pectoral fin is reddish yellow. 

The red hind, like the rock hind, frequents 
rocky places and feeds mostly on small fishes. 
It grows to a length of about eighteen inches, 
and is an excellent food-fish. Not much is known 
concerning its breeding habits, though it prob- 
ably spawns in the spring. The same tackle rec- 
ommended for the rock hind, and the same baits, 
will do as well for the red hind, as they are found 
together. 



The Grouper Family 299 

THE CONEY 

(J^etrojiidopott cruentatus) 

This beautiful fish is allied to the groupers, 
and belongs to the family SerranidcE, previously 
described. It was described and named by Lace- 
pede from a drawing by Plumier, made from a 
specimen from Martinique. Lacepede recorded 
it in his "Natural History of Fishes," 1803, 
conferring on it the name cruentatus, meaning 
"dyed with blood," in allusion to its red spots. 
It belongs to the West Indian fauna, with a range 
extending from the Florida Keys to Brazil ; it is 
quite common about Key West, being seen in 
the markets every day. 

The body has the somewhat elliptical outline 
of the other groupers, but is more oblong and 
deeper, its depth being more than a third of its 
length. The head is moderate in size, rather 
pointed, its length less than the depth of the 
body ; the mouth is large, with the lower jaw pro- 
jecting but slightly; the teeth are in narrow 
bands, the inner series long, slender, and depress- 
ible; the canines small. Its ground color is 
reddish gray, a little paler below; the head and 
body are covered with bright vermilion spots, 
larger and brighter anteriorly. 



300 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

It frequents rocky situations, like the coney of 
Holy Writ. It is highly esteemed as a food-fish, 
but is of smaller size than the groupers previously 
described, seldom growing beyond a foot in 
length or a pound in weight. It probably spawns 
in the spring. It is quite a gamy fish for its size 
on light tackle. 

It is usually taken by the market fishermen on 
the same tackle as the grunts, snappers, porgies, 
etc., among the rocks of the channels, in rather 
deep water, with fish bait. It is well worth catch- 
ing, if only to admire its graceful shape and brill- 
iant coloration. 

For the coney, black-bass rods, braided linen 
line, size F, with Sproat hooks. No. 2-0 or 3-Q, 
on gimp snells, and sinker adapted to the strength 
of the tide, with the smallest fish for bait, will 
answer admirably. The little whirligig mullet, 
or spiny crawfish, or even cut-fish bait, are all 
good baits to use as occasion may demand. 

THE NIGGER-FISH 

(^Bodiamis fulvtts) 

It is difficult to account for names, we know; 
but just why this handsome fish should be called 
" nigger-fish " is hard to imagine. It is some- 




CATCHING SPANISH MACKEREL ON THE EDGE OF THE 
GULF STREAM 



The Grouper Family 301 

times called yellow-fish, a better and more de- 
scriptive name, but no doubt nigger-fish it always 
will be. It differs from the other groupers in the 
less number of spiny rays in the dorsal fin ; other- 
wise it is much the same. It was described by 
Linnaeus, in 1758, from the account of the "yel- 
low-fish " by Catesby, in 1 743, from the Bahamas. 
Linnaeus named it fulvus, or " tawny," from its 
coloration. This is also a fish belonging to the 
West Indian fauna, its range extending from the 
Bahamas and the Florida Keys to South America. 
The outline of body of the nigger-fish is similar 
to that of the hinds, being nearly elliptical, and 
with a depth of a third of its length, and moder- 
ately compressed. The head is long and pointed, 
longer than the depth of the body, with an evenly 
curved profile from the snout to the dorsal fin; 
the lower jaw projects very much ; the mouth is 
large, with narrow bands of teeth, and small 
canines. Its general color is yellow, darker or 
orange-red on the back, with two black spots on 
the tail ; there are a few violet spots about the 
eye, and some blue spots on the head and anterior 
half of the body, those on the head with dark 
margins ; the head, and pectoral and dorsal fins, 
are reddish. 



302 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

The nigger-fish is found in the deeper channels 
in rocky situations. It feeds on small fishes prin- 
cipally. It is not very common, and is much 
prized as a food-fish by the people of Key West. 
The common varieties are the red and brown 
nigger- fishes, which differ only in coloration from 
the yellow ones. It is taken with the other 
channel fishes, and with the same baits and 
similar tackle, by the market fishermen ; but the 
angler should utilize his black-bass rod, with 
braided linen line, size F, and hooks No. 2-0 
on gimp snells. As it is a bottom feeder a sinker 
must be used to keep the bait at the proper 
depth. For baits, any small fish or sea-crawfish 
or prawns or shrimps will answer. 

I was once fishing for channel fishes in sight 
of Key West, and having just landed a nigger- 
fish, I asked my boatman, a Bahama negro, 
why it was so called. He answered in the 
lingo peculiar to both white and black Baha- 
mians : — 

" Veil, maybe it's along of its yaller and red 
color, for niggers is right fond of yaller and red ; 
but vether that's the horigin of its fust name is 
'ard to tell. Now, Hamericans calls us Bahama 
people conchs 'cause we eats conchs, but nigger- 



The Grouper Family 303 

fish don't eat niggers, no more does jellyfish eat 
jelly. I think they are called nigger-fish 'cause 
they is so 'andsome." 

THE SAND-FISH 

{Dzplectriim fortnosmn) 

The sand-fish, or, as it is sometimes called, the 
squirrel-fish, also belongs to the family Serrmiidcu. 
It was first described by Linnaeus, in 1 766, from 
Dr. Garden's specimens from South Carolina ; he 
named \i formosa, or "handsome," from its pretty 
form and coloration. It inhabits the Atlantic 
coast from South Carolina to South America, 
and is common to both coasts of Florida, and 
especially about the keys. It has a rather ellip- 
tical body in outline ; its depth is less than a third 
of its length, being elongate and rather slender 
as compared with other allied species. The 
head is as long as the depth of the body, with an 
arched profile above the eyes ; the mouth is large, 
the lower jaw projecting a little ; the upper border 
of the cheek-bone is serrated, with two clusters 
of small, sharp spines ; the teeth are in narrow 
bands ; the canine teeth are small. 

Its color is light brown above, silvery white 
below ; there are several dark and broad vcr- 



304 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

tical bars across the body, and a dark blotch 
at the base of the caudal fin ; the body has 
eight narrow bright blue longitudinal stripes, 
which are more distinct above, and paler below ; 
the head is yellow, with several wavy blue stripes 
below the eye and several between the eyes ; 
the upper fins have blue and yellow stripes, and 
the caudal fin has yellow spots surrounded by 
bluish markings. 

It frequents sandy shoals, and also rocky 
shores, feeding on small fishes and crustaceans. 
It is a good pan-fish, growing to about a foot 
in length, but usually to six or eight inches. 
The same tackle and baits used for the hinds, 
coney, and nigger-fish will also answer well for 
the sand-fish, which consists of black-bass rod, 
braided linen line, size F, hooks No. i or i-o, and 
suitable sinker and swivel. It is a good game- 
fish for its size on the light tackle just mentioned, 
and is well worth a trial on account of its beauty, 
and excellence for the table, even if its gameness 
is not considered. 

While engaged in a scientific expedition to 
Florida many years ago, my vessel ran aground 
one afternoon in Barnes Sound, southwest of 
Biscayne Bay. The bottom was a sandy marl 



The Grouper Family 305 

and quite soft, so that we were unable to use the 
setting poles to any advantage in moving the 
boat. I observed quite a school of fish surround- 
ing the vessel, which proved to be sand-fish. I 
put out a stake to mark the stage of the tide, and 
while waiting for the flood tide I put in the time 
fishing, and soon had enough sand-fish for supper 
and breakfast. This was rather fortunate, as we 
were still aground the next morning, for strange 
to say the depth of the water had neither in- 
creased nor diminished for sixteen hours; there 
was no tide in that remote corner of the universe. 
We then took out the ballast of about a ton of 
pig-iron and put it in the dory we had in tow. 
This lightened up the vessel enough to enable us 
to shove her off into deeper water. I think we 
never enjoyed any fish quite so much as those 
delicious little sand-fish, and it has ever since 
been one of my favorite fishes. 



CHAPTER XVI 

THE CAVALLI FAMILY 
{Caratigidce) 

The members of this family differ from the 
true mackerels by a less number of spines in the 
first dorsal fin, and in having but two spines in 
the anal fin, and no detached finlets ; also in hav- 
ing smaller teeth. Some of the species are de- 
scribed in another volume of this series, to which 
the reader is referred. 

Carangus chrysos. The Runner. Body oblong, moderately elevated, 
the dorsal and ventral outlines about equally arched ; head 3J ; 
depth 3^; eye 3^; lateral line with 50 scutes; D. VIII-I, 24; 
A. II-I, 19; profile forms a uniform curve; snout rather sharp; 
mouth moderate, slightly oblique, maxillary reaching middle of 
orbit ; teeth comparatively large ; a single series in lower jaw ; 
upper jaw with an inner series of smaller teeth ; no canines ; 
teeth on vomer, palatines, and tongue ; gill-rakers long and 
numerous ; pectoral fin not longer than head ; scales moderate ; 
cheeks and breast scaly ; black opercular spot. 

Carangus latus. The Horse-eye Jack. Moderately deep ; head 3I ; 
depth ^\ ; scutes 30 ; D. VHI-I, 20 ; A. II-I, 17 ; head bluntish ; 
profile curved ; mouth moderate ; lower jaw prominent ; villi- 
form teeth on upper jaw, vomer, palatines, and tongue; weak 
canines in lower jaw ; breast scaly ; maxillary reaching posterior 
edge of pupil ; pectoral fin about as long as head ; cheeks and 
306 



The Cavalli Family 307 

upper part of opercles scaly; gill-rakers rather long, about 12 
below the angle. 
Trachinotus carolinus. The Pompano. Body oblong, compara- 
tively robust; head 4; depth 2^; eye 42; scales small and 
smooth ; D. VI-I, 25 ; A. II-I, 23 ; profile of head evenly con- 
vex; snout bluntly rounded; mouth small, maxillary reaching 
middle of eye ; jaws without teeth in the adult ; maxillary with- 
out supplemental bone ; dorsal and anal fins falcate, anterior 
rays nearly reaching middle of fins when depressed ; dorsal lobe 
\\ in body ; anal 5I ; dorsal lobe pale. 



THE RUNNER 

{Carangus chrysos) 

The runner was first described by Dr. S. L. 
Mitchill, in 181 5, from the vicinity of New York. 
He named it chrysos, meaning "gold," from the 
golden sheen of its sides. It inhabits the 
Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to Brazil, but is 
most abundant on southern shores and in the 
Gulf of Mexico. 

It has an oblong body, its depth a little less 
than a third of its length, with the dorsal and 
ventral curves about equal. The head is shorter 
than the depth of the body, with a uniformly 
curved profile and rather sharp snout. The 
mouth is moderate in size and low, with a single 
series of teeth in the lower jaw, and two in the 
upper one, but no canines ; there are also small 
teeth on the roof of the mouth and tongue. Its 



3o8 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

colour is greenish olive on the back, and golden 
yellow or silvery below ; there is a black blotch 
on the border of the gill-cover; the fins are all 
plain. 

The runner, as its name indicates, is a great 
forager, and is the swiftest and most graceful of 
all the jacks or cavallies. It ranges farther 
northward than the other species of the genus. 
It frequents the reefs and the shores of the keys 
and mainland of Florida in search of food, which 
consists of small fishes, as sardines, anchovies, 
mullets, etc., crustaceans, and other small organ- 
isms. It is the best of the jacks as a food-fish, 
and is in great favor at Key West. For its 
size it is also the gamest, but as it rarely exceeds 
a foot in length it is not so much sought, gener- 
ally, as the larger jacks. It is, however, a great 
favorite with the juvenile anglers at Key West, 
as it can be taken from the wharves with almost 
any kind of bait. On account of its activity and 
gameness it furnishes fine sport on light tackle, 
and under these conditions is worthy the atten- 
tion of the angler. A light black-bass rod, 
braided linen line, size G, hooks No. i or i-o on 
gimp snells, a light multiplying reel and sinker 
adapted to the tidal current, comprise a good 



The Cavalli Family 309 

outfit for the runner, which is also known as 
hard-tail and jurel in some localities. About 
Key West and the neighboring keys the best 
bait is the little whirligig mullet (Querimana 
gyrans), which whirls on the surface in large 
schools, or cut bait or shrimps may be used to 
advantage. 

The author of a recently published book on 
the fishes of Florida makes the following queer 
statement, " It seems to me the runners are 
hybrids from the crevalle and bluefish species or 
families, as they certainly resemble both of those 
fishes." It would be strange did they not resem- 
ble the fishes named, as all are of the mackerel 
tribe, and all are distinguished by having falcate 
anal and dorsal fins of about the same relative 
size, and placed about opposite each other, and 
also have swallow-shaped caudal fins with slender 
caudal pedicle ; but there the greatest resemblance 
ends. I have never seen a hybrid among fishes 
in the natural state. They can be produced by 
the fishculturist between kindred species, but 
there is no especial benefit to be derived from 
such experiments. Hybrids, or so-called mules, 
are infertile, and incapable of reproducing their 
kind. 



3IO Bass, Pike, and Perch 

THE HORSE-EYE JACK 

(^Carangus lattis) 

The horse-eye jack was first described by 
Louis Agassiz, in 1829, from Brazil, who named 
it latus, or " broad," owing to its short and deep 
form. It differs from the runner mostly in being 
deeper in body, and in its large eye. It has a 
few less soft rays in the dorsal and anal fins, and 
but thirty-five bony scutes along the lateral line ; 
otherwise it is very similar. Its color is bluish 
above and golden or silvery below, and it has a 
black spot on the margin of the gill-cover, but of 
less size than that of the runner. While it is 
similar in habits to the runner, it has a more 
extended range, inhabiting all warm seas. 

The horse-eye jack grows to a larger size than 
the runner, but is not nearly so good a food-fish, 
though nearly its equal as a game-fish. Its flesh 
is reputed to be poisonous at certain seasons in 
the tropics, and whether true or not, it is not held 
in much favor, though it is caught by boys at 
the wharves of Key West, and I presume is 
eaten. The same tackle and baits recommended 
for the runner can be utilized for the horse-eye 
iack. 



The Cavalli Family 311 

THE POMPANO 

{Trachinotus carolinus) 

The pompano was first described by Linnaeus, 
in 1766, from Dr. Garden's specimens from South 
CaroHna, which accounts for its specific name. 
It is abundant on the South Atlantic and Gulf 
coasts, to which it is mostly confined, though it 
occasionally strays north to Cape Cod in summer, 
and rarely to the West Indies. 

It has a short, deep body, being nearly half as 
deep as long, oblong and robust. Its head is 
short, about half as long as the depth of the 
body, with a small, low mouth, and with few or 
no teeth in the jaws ; the snout is blunt, the 
profile from end of snout to the eye about verti- 
cal, and from thence to the dorsal fin is regularly 
arched. The color is bluish above and golden 
or silvery below; the pectoral and anal fins are 
yellow, shaded with blue ; caudal fin with bluish 
reflections. 

The pompano frequents the sandy beaches of 
the keys and islands of the Gulf coast, mostly 
the outside shores, where it feeds on beach-fleas 
and the beautiful little mollusks known as " pom- 
pano-shells," also on small shrimps and other 



312 Bass, Pike, and Penh 

shore-loving organisms. I consider the pompano 
to be the best food-fish in either salt or fresh 
water — the prince of food-fishes, it is incom- 
parable. It is caught principally in haul seines 
by the fishermen on the flood tide. On the 
Atlantic coast it is abundant at Jupiter inlet 
and at Lake Worth, but not so plentiful as about 
the outside and inside beaches of the islands 
about Charlotte Harbor on the Gulf coast. In 
the summer it strays northward to the Carolina 
coasts. Its usual weight is a pound or two, 
rarely exceeding eighteen inches in length or 
four pounds in weight. It is often confounded 
with several other species, as the permit {Tra- 
chinotjis goodei), which reaches three feet in 
length and twenty-five or thirty pounds in 
weight; also with the gaff top-sail pompano 
{Trachinotus glaucus\ and the round pompano 
(Trachiuotus falcahis), both of which grow larger 
than the true pompano and are often sold for the 
genuine article by dealers ; but no one who has 
eaten a true pompano can be deceived by these 
other species. It spawns in the summer. 

It is difficult to take the pompano with the 
hook except on the flood tide, when it is running 
in schools, feeding along the shores, though it is 



The Cavalli Family 313 

occasionally caught by still-fishing in the bays 
with bait of beach-fleas or cut clam. The tackle 
should be very light and the hook small, Nos. 6 
or 8, on fine gut snells. When hooked it is a 
game-fish of more than ordinary cunning and 
cleverness, and one of two pounds will tax the 
angler's skill on a six-ounce rod. They can be 
taken in the surf of the outside beaches of the 
islands, on the flood tide, with beach-flea bait, by 
casting it into the schools with a fiy-rod ; and this 
is the best form of fishing for this grand fish. 

The hooked pompano frequently breaks water 
among its other manoeuvres to escape the angler, 
and as a leaper at other times has quite a reputa- 
tion. I have often had them leap into my boat, 
both when anchored and moving, but usually 
when sailing near a school. The name pom- 
pano is probably derived from the Spanish word 
pampana, a *' vine leaf," owing to its shape 
resembling somewhat a leaf of some kind of 
vine ; the books say a " grape leaf," to which the 
pompano has a remote resemblance if the 
extended fins are taken into account. There is 
another Spanish word pampano, more nearly 
resembling pompano in sound and spelling. It 
means "a young vine branch or tendril," and if 



314 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

the aquatic capers and aerial saltations of the 
pompano when hooked are to be brought into 
the comparison, they cannot be exceeded by that 
most intricate dance, the " grape-vine twist," even 
when performed by the most agile plantation 
negro. But seriously, when its size is consid- 
ered, one would have to go far afield, or rather 
search the waters under the earth, for a better 
fish for the angler or the epicure. 

I have seen more pompano about the beaches 
of Big and Little Gasparilla Keys of Charlotte 
Harbor, on the Gulf coast, than elsewhere in 
Florida. On their outside beaches, during the 
flood tide, the beach-fleas and pompano-shells 
come rolling in on every wave. The little mol- 
lusks disappear beneath the sand in the twinkling 
of an eye, but the crustaceans are again carried 
out by the receding wave. And this continues 
during the first half of the flood tide, during 
which time schools of pompano are feeding on 
them. On one such occasion myself and a friend 
were " flea-fishing " for pompano ; that is, we were 
using fly-rods and very small hooks baited with 
beach-fleas, which we cast in the same manner 
as artificial flies. My friend, fishing at the 
water's edge, often forgot in his eagerness to step 



The Cavalli Family 315 

back to avoid each "ninth wave," which would 
wet him to his knees. However, in that warm, 
sunny clime the involuntary bath did him no 
harm, and he had his compensation in a basket 
of fine pompano, which were duly planked for 
dinner and eaten, bones and all, — for their bones 
are very soft and semi-cartilaginous. The head 
of a broiled or planked pompano is a bonne- 
douche that once eaten will ever be held in 
grateful and gratified remembrance. 



CHAPTER XVII 

THE CHANNEL FISHES 

The channels among the reefs and keys from 
Cape Florida to Key West and vicinity abound 
with a number of percoid, or perchlike, fishes, 
belonging to several families. They are mostly 
of small size, comparatively, but afford good 
bottom fishing. They are all good food-fishes 
and find a ready sale in the markets of Key 
West. Most of them are remarkable for their 
gay and brilliant coloration. 

The coralline formation of the keys and reefs 
renders the use of seines and nets impossible, 
so that all of the fishing for market is done with 
hook and line, — usually with sea-crawfish bait, 
though a few are taken in traps formed of heavy 
wire. The fishes consist of grunts, snappers, 
groupers, porgies, etc., and are carried to market 
alive in the wells of the small vessels known as 
" smackees." 

A fleet of larger vessels, mostly schooner-rigged, 
troll along the keys and reefs for the larger 
316 



The Channel Fishes 317 

surface-feeding fishes, as kingfish, cero, Spanish 
mackerel, bonitos, large groupers and snappers, 
etc. The troll is usually a piece of bacon-skin 
cut of an elliptical shape to simulate a fish, and 
is impaled on a codfish hook with a snell of 
copper wire, and a laid cotton codfish line of a 
size nearly as large as a lead-pencil. The hook- 
ing and hauling aboard of the fish, while under 
sail, so disables it that it is killed by a blow on 
the head and carried to market on ice. 

As all of the grunts, snappers, porgies, and 
other channel fishes grow only to a foot or two 
in length, the same tackle may answer for all. 
The fishing is done in water of varying depth, 
from a few feet to twenty or more, from an 
anchored boat. The best plan for the angler 
who is visiting Key West for the first time is 
to go out with a market fisherman in his boat 
and learn by ocular evidence the modus operandi 
of channel fishing. After that he will be pre- 
pared to follow his own devices and fish in the 
same or an improved way. 

A stiffish black-bass rod, or the Little Giant 
rod of seven and one-half feet and eight ounces, 
a modification of the Henshall black-bass rod, 
are quite suitable, though the market fishermen 



3i8 Bass, Pike, and Pmb 

use hand-lines altogether. The rest of the tackle 
needed is a multiplying reel, a braided linen line, 
size E or F, Sproat or O'Shaughnessy hooks of 
various sizes, from Nos. i to 3-0, according to 
the size of the mouths of the different fishes, 
though No. i-o will be found to be a good 
average size. Sinkers of different weights, from 
one to six ounces, to meet the strength of the 
tide, and a strong landing-net must be added. 
The hooks should be tied on single, strong silk- 
worm fibre. 

The best bait is the sea-crawfish {Palhiurus), 
or spin)- lobster, which grows to the size of the 
common lobster, and is found in the crevices of 
the coral reefs or among the rocks and shells 
at the bottom, from whence it is taken by the 
fish spear called "grains." The flesh is taken 
from the shell and cut up for bait, and the shell 
itself is tied to a line and sunk near the bottom 
to attract the fish. Shrimps are also good bait, 
as are any of the small fishes, or conchs cut into 
suitable sizes. Any of the various crabs can 
also be utilized. The large conchs Styombus and 
Pyrula are good, and a large one will furnish bait 
for a whole day. 



The Channel Fishes 319 

BAIT FISHES 

For the information of anglers who would 
like to know something of the small fishes used 
for bait, their names at least, I think it not out 
of place to mention them here. The mullet is 
one of the fishes most frequently utilized. There 
are several species belonging to the family 
Mugilidcs : the common mullet {Mugil cephalus), 
the white mullet (Mugil curemd), both of which 
are abundant in Florida, especially the first 
named. There is a somewhat rare species along 
the coasts, but common at Key West, the fan- 
tail mullet {Mugil trichodon). A very abun- 
dant but very small species, and one that makes 
a capital bait for fishes with small mouths, is the 
whirligig mullet {Querimana gyrans). 

There are several species of sardines belong- 
ing to the herring family {Clupeidce). They may 
be found in all bays along the coasts, going in 
and out of the inlets with the tide. The most 
common species are the silver sardine {Sardi- 
nella kumeralis), which has a dark spot at the 
base of the pectoral fin, and the striped sardine 
{Sardinella sardind), which has faint streaks 
along the sides. 

The anchovies belong to the family Engrauli- 



320 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

didcB, and may be distinguished by their very 
wide mouths, which open back to the gill-cover. 
The species all look very much alike ; the most 
common ones are the banded anchovy {Stole- 
phorus perfasciatus), with narrow silvery longi- 
tudinal band, and from two to three inches long ; 
the big anchovy {Stolephorus brownii), which is 
deeper and grows larger, from four to six inches 
in length; these two species are mostly con- 
fined to the south and west coasts. Another 
species, also abundant on the east coast, is the 
silver anchovy {Stolephorus mitchilli\ which is 
more silvery or translucent in appearance than 
the others, with yellowish fins and dotted body. 

There are a number of crabs that are excellent 
baits, as the hermit crab {Eupagurus), which 
lives in the cast-off shells of univalve mollusks ; 
fiddler crab (Gelasimus), which abounds in myr- 
iads on the inside shores of the bays ; the spider 
crab [Libinid), which is quite common in shallow 
water, sometimes covered with bits of weeds, 
shells, etc. ; the common crab {Cancer) ; the lady 
crab (Platyonickus), beautifully spotted ; the stone 
crab {Menippe), quite a large crab, with very 
large claws; the mud crab {Pauopeus), a small 
crab and a very good bait. There are a number 



The Channel Fishes 321 

of crustaceans, commonly called beach-fleas, that 
are good baits for small-mouthed fishes along 
the Florida coasts, among which may be men- 
tioned the beach-flea {Orchestia); the sand-bug 
{Hippo) ; the gribble {Limnoria); also the shrimp 
{Gammarus)] and the prawn [Palcemonetes). 

THE GRUNT FAMILY 

{HcBftiiilidcE) 

The grunts have an oblong body, more or less 
elevated and compressed ; head large, its sides 
usually scaly ; mouth low and horizontal, usually 
curved ; sharp or pointed teeth ; dorsal fin single, 
with a marked angle at the junction of the spiny 
and soft portions ; the dorsal spines ten or twelve ; 
anal fin with three spines, the second one the 
largest ; caudal fin concave. The coloration is 
bizarre and usually brilliant, with the lips and 
inside of the mouth bright red or scarlet. They 
are all good pan-fishes, and from their habit of 
emitting vocal sounds when caught are called 
" grunts." They feed on crustaceans, small fishes, 
and the innumerable marine invertebrates that 
inhabit the coral reefs and coralline rocks. 

Hamidon plumieri. The Common Grunt. Body moderately elon- 
gate ; the back elevated and somewhat compressed ; head 
long, the sharp snout projecting; head 2f ; depth 2f ; eye 5; 



322 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

D. XII, i6; A. Ill, 8 ; scales 5-50-17 ; anterior profile more or 
less S-shaped ; the nape gibbous ; mouth very large, the gape 
curved, maxillary reaching beyond front of eye ; lower jaw 
slightly included ; teeth strong, in broad bands, those of the 
outer series enlarged ; antrorse teeth of posterior part of both 
jaws strong ; interorbital space convex ; preorbital rather deep ; 
preopercle finely serrate ; scales above lateral line much enlarged 
anteriorly. 

Hcetmdon sciurus. The Yellow Grunt. Body oblong, the back 
not much elevated ; head 2 J ; depth 1% ; eye 4 ; scales 7-53-14 ; 
D. XII, 16; A. 111,8; interorbital space convex; preopercle 
finely serrate ; profile nearly straight ; snout moderately acute ; 
mouth large, the gape curved, the maxillary reaching a little past 
front of pupil ; lower jaw slightly included ; teeth strong ; upper 
jaw in front with about 3 strong canines on each side ; front 
teeth of lower jaw rather strong ; blue stripes on body. 

Hcemulon album. The Margate-fish. Body comparatively deep, 
the back much elevated and compressed; the anterior profile 
steep; head 3; depth 2f; eye 6; scales 7-46-16; D. XII, 16; 
A. Ill, 7 ; snout pointed ; mouth large, the maxillary extending 
to front of eye; lower jaw included; teeth not very large, in 
narrow bands ; interorbital space strongly convex ; preorbital 
deep ; preopercle finely serrate ; soft part of anal and dorsal fins 
covered with thin, translucent scales. 

HcBtnulon parra. The Sailor's Choice. Body comparatively deep, 
the back compressed and arched ; anterior profile rather steep 
and convex; head 3; depth 2f; eye 4; scales 5-50-14; D. 
XII, 17 ; A. Ill, 7 ; mouth rather small, the maxillary extending 
to front of eye ; teeth in bands, rather strong, the outer large, 
antrorse teeth of lower jaw well developed ; preopercle finely 
serrate ; lower jaw slightly included ; interorbital space convex ; 
preorbital rather deep. 

Orthopristis chrysoptcrus. The Pig-fish. Body ovate-elliptical, 
somewhat elevated at shoulders, considerably compressed ; 
head3|; depth ^\\ eye 5; scales 10-60-19; D. XII, 16; A. 
Ill, 12; snout long and sharp; jaws equal, each with a narrow 
band of slender teeth, the outer above a little larger ; mouth 
small, the maxillary not reaching to eye ; preopercle very slightly 




THE BLACK GRUNT 
Hcemulon plumieri 




THE RED SNAPPER 
Lutianus aya 



The Channel Fishes 323 

serrate above ; snout and lower jaw naked, rest of head scaly ; 
dorsal and anal spines enclosed in a deep, scaly sheath ; soft 
rays naked. 
Anisotretnus virginicus. The Pork-fish. Body ovate, the back 
very much elevated ; the anterior profile steep ; very much 
arched at nape; head 3^; depth 2jV; eye 4; scales 11-56-17; 
D. XII, 17; A. Ill, 10; mouth small, the maxillary extending 
to anterior nostril ; jaws subequal ; outer row of teeth enlarged ; 
about 6 gill-rakers. 

THE BLACK GRUNT 

(^Hcemidon plutnieri) 

The black or common grunt is the most abun- 
dant and one of the most popular food-fishes in the 
vicinity of Key West. It was named by Lacepede, 
in 1802, in honor of Father Plumier, an early nat- 
uralist, who sent drawings of the fishes of Mar- 
tinique to the museums of Europe. It belongs to 
the West Indian fauna, and is abundant near Key 
West, and not uncommon about the rocks and 
reefs at the lower end of Tampa Bay and other 
rocky localities on the Gulf coast of Florida. On 
the Atlantic coast it is found as far north as Cape 
Hatteras. 

The depth of the body is a little more than 
a third of its length, compressed, with elevated 
shoulder. The head is as long as the depth of 
the body, with a large, curved mouth and a 
pointed and projecting gnout. The profile is 



324 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

concave in front of the eye. The jaws are armed 
with bands of strong and conical teeth, the outer 
ones largest and the rear ones curving forward. 
Its color is bluish gray, with the bases of the 
scales bronze, tinged with olive, forming oblique 
stripes running upward and backward. The head 
is golden bronze, with many bright blue stripes, 
very distinct, a few of which extend to the shoul- 
der. The inside of the mouth is scarlet, becom- 
ing lighter, or yellowish, on the jaws. The dorsal 
fin is grayish, with a yellow border on the spinous 
portion ; the anal fin is gray tinged with yellow ; 
the ventral fins are bluish gray ; the pectoral fins 
are gray with a dusky bar at the base ; the caudal 
fin is plain gray. 

The common grunt grows usually to a foot in 
length, though more are caught under that size 
than over. It is often called " sow grunt " by the 
market fishermen, in contradistinction to the " boar 
grunt," as the yellow grunt is often designated by 
them, wrongly supposing one to be the male and 
the other the female. While the general remarks 
on its feeding habits, as given in the paragraph 
relating to the family characteristics of the grunts, 
are correct, it may be stated that they are essen- 
tially carnivorous, devouring small fishes, crusta- 



The Channel Fishes 325 

ceans, and other marine invertebrates that abound 
on the coralline reefs. They spawn late in the 
summer, on the rocky shoals and hard, sandy bars, 
congregating at such times in large schools. As 
a food-fish it is held in greater esteem than any 
other fish in the Key West market, and selling 
from a nickel to a dime for a bunch of about half a 
dozen, it forms the staple breakfast dish of all 
Key Westers, who are inordinately fond of it. 

While assistant chief of the fisheries depart- 
ment of the World's Columbian Exposition at 
Chicago, in 1893, I had among other visitors a 
young lady friend from Key West, who never 
before had been away from her island home, hav- 
ing been educated at the convent of Key West. 
She could not find words to express her delight 
at scenes so entirely new and novel, and said that 
some things gave her a better idea of heaven ; 
but there was one thing, she said, that was lacking 
amidst all the wonders and delights from the 
four quarters of the globe, and without which 
everything else paled into insignificance, — "fried 
grunts for breakfast." I made her happy by escort- 
ing her to the Aquarium and showing her the 
live grunts swimming in a tank, seemingly as 
much at home as on the coral reefs of Florida. 



326 Bass, Pike, and Pcrcb 

The methods of anghng, and the tackle and baits 
used for grunts, are given in the opening pai-a- 
graphs of this chapter, to which the reader is 
referred. 

THE YELLOW GRUNT 

(//<rw///(>// Siiurifs) 

The yellow grunt was first noticed by Bloch, 
in 1790, from the West Indies; but owing to a 
mistake as to its proper identification it was 
named siiurus, meaning "squirrel," by Shaw, in 
1803, based on Bloch's description and figure. 
The name squirrel is in allusion to the grunt- 
ing noise it emits when captured, which is com- 
pared to the barking of that animal. It is 
abundant in the West Indies and south to Brazil, 
and is quite common about Key West. 

The yellow grunt is very similar to the com- 
mon grunt in the conformation of its body and 
fins, but has a rather curved profile instead of a 
depression in front of the eye. The teeth are simi- 
lar, with about three strong canines on each side. 
The scales on the upper part of the body are rela- 
tively smaller than in the black grunt. Its color 
is uniformly brassy yellow, with about a dozen 
longitudinal and distinct stripes of sky-blue, some- 
what wavy, extending from the snout to the anal 



The Channel Fishes 327 

fin; the fins are yellowish ; the inside of the mouth 
is scarlet. It grows to about a foot in length, 
but occasionally to eighteen inches. It is the 
handsomest in coloration and appearance of all 
the grunts, and is often called *' boar grunt " by 
the Key West fishermen. A black-bass bait rod, 
braided linen line, snelled hooks No. i-o, with 
sinker adapted to the depth and current of the 
water, and sea-crawfish, shrimps, prawns, or cut- 
fish bait, will be found quite applicable for grunt 
fishing. 

Although the yellow grunt was known to sci- 
ence from the West Indies as early as 1790, it 
was not recorded from the waters of the United 
States until a century later, when in 1881 I col- 
lected it at Key West. This is the more remark- 
able inasmuch as it is rather common along the 
keys, and is moreover such a striking, well- 
marked, and handsome species that it is difficult 
to imagine how it had been overlooked. The 
field has, however, been pretty well worked since, 
and many new species have been recorded. 

The Florida Keys, like the southern portion of 
the peninsula, are of recent formation, and are 
underlaid by oolitic and coral limestones. These 
coralline rocks are formed by the action of the 



328 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

waves and weather on the calcareous secretions 
of coral polyps, those beautiful "flowers of the 
sea" which are still building better than they 
know on the outlying submerged reefs, and where 
may be seen those tiny "toilers of the sea," 
madrepores, astreans, maeandrinas, porites, gor- 
gonias, etc., rivalling in beauty of form and color 
the most charming and delicate ferns, fungi, 
mosses, and shrubs. 

The fishes that frequent the coral reefs are very 
handsome, both in form and coloration : silvery, 
rosy, scarlet, brown, and golden bodies, with sky- 
blue, bright yellow, rosy, or black stripes and 
bands, or spotted, stellated, and mottled with all 
the hues of the rainbow; and with jewelled eyes 
of scarlet, blue, yellow, or black; fins of all colors 
and shapes, and lips of scarlet red, blue, or silver. 

THE MARGATE-FISH 

(^Hcemulon albia/t) 

The margate-fish, or margate grunt, is the 
largest of the family, growing to two feet or more 
in length and eight or ten pounds in weight, 
though usually it weighs from two to six pounds 
as taken to market. It was noticed by Catesby 
in his " History of the Carolinas," in 1 742, and was 



The Channel Fishes 329 

wrongly identified from his description by Wal- 
baum in 1792. It received its present name from 
Cuvier and Valenciennes, in 1830, from West 
Indian specimens; they called it album, meaning 
" white," as it is the lightest in coloration of any 
of the grunts. It is much esteemed as a food- 
fish at Key West. It is abundant from Key 
West to Brazil, being quite common about the 
Florida Keys, especially in the immediate vicinity 
of Key West, being usually found in deep water, 
except when it approaches the shallows to feed 
on crustaceans, etc. It is rather a warm-water 
fish. 

The margate-fish is of much the same propor- 
tions, and of similar appearance, as the yellow 
grunt, but with a more elevated and arching 
back, and is more compressed. The teeth are in 
narrow bands, and are somewhat smaller than in 
the other grunts. The adult fish is whitish, oliva- 
ceous on the back, with faint spots on the scales 
of back and sides. The inside of the mouth is 
orange ; the lips and snout yellowish ; the fins 
dusky greenish ; a broad but indistinct band ex- 
tends along the sides. Younger fish are bluish 
in coloration of body and fins, with dark parallel 
stripes below. 



330 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

Somewhat larger hooks, say No. • 2-0, and a 
little heavier line, braided linen, size F, are more 
suitable for this fish ; otherwise the same tackle 
and baits can be employed as for the other grunts 
and channel fishes. 

THE SAILOR'S CHOICE 

{Hcemulon parrd) 

This grunt is sometimes called bastard mar- 
garet by the Key West fisherman. The name 
sailor's choice is often wrongly applied to the pin- 
fish {Lagodon rhomboides) and the pig-fish {Ortho- 
pristis chry sop terns). The sailor's choice was 
first described by Desmarest, in 1823, from Ha- 
vana; he named it parra in honor of the Cuban 
naturalist, Parra. It is a good pan-fish, eight or 
ten inches long, usually, but sometimes growing 
to a foot in length. It is abundant from Key 
West to Brazil. I have taken it from the line of 
keys southwest of Cape Florida, and along the 
mainland from Biscayne Bay to Marco and Lemon 
Bay on the Gulf coast. 

Its body is of about the same proportions, and 
of the same general appearance, as that of the 
yellow grunt, and it grows to about the same 
size. The radial formula of its fins and size of 



The Channel Fishes 331 

scales are also much the same. The mouth is 
smaller, but the teeth are of about the same char- 
acter. Its color is dull pearly gray, belly grayish, 
each scale of the body with a distinct olive-brown 
spot, forming interrupted, oblique, and wavy 
streaks; fins dusky. The inside of the mouth is 
not so red as in the other grunts. There is a 
distinct black spot on the lower edge of the 
cheek-bone. 

THE GRAY GRUNT AND FRENCH GRUNT 

The gray grunt {Hcemulon macrostomum) and 
the French grunt {Hcsmulon flavolineatum) are 
not so common about the Florida Keys as the 
other grunts, but grow to about the same size, and 
are often taken with them, and with the same 
baits and the same mode of fishing. 

THE PIG-FISH 

{Orthopristis chrysopterus) 

Another pan-fish belonging to the grunt family 
and common to the waters of Florida, and one 
much esteemed as a food-fish, is the pig-fish. It 
is known as hog-fish in Chesapeake Bay, and 
sailor's choice on the South Atlantic coast. It 
was described by Linnaeus, in 1766, from South 
Carolina. He named it chrysopterus, or "gold 



332 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

fin." Its range extends from the Chesapeake Bay 
along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to Florida 
and Texas, and occasionally it strays as far north 
as Long Island. 

It resembles the grunts very much in its gen- 
eral appearance. Its body is rather more than a 
third of its length, elevated at the shoulder, and 
compressed. Its head is a third of the length of 
the body, with a long, sharp snout and a small 
mouth placed low. There is a narrow band of 
slender teeth in each jaw, the outer ones in the 
upper jaw somewhat larger. The color of the 
pig-fish is light blue above, shading gradually to 
silvery below ; the upper lip is marked with blue ; 
the body scales have a blue centre, the edges with 
a bronze spot, forming very distinct orange-brown 
stripes along the rows of scales on the back and 
sides, those above the lateral line extending 
obliquely upward and backward, those below be- 
ing nearly horizontal ; the snout, cheeks, and 
gill-covers have distinct bronze spots, larger than 
those of the body ; the inside of the mouth is pale, 
the back of the mouth somewhat golden in hue ; 
the dorsal fin is translucent, with bronze spots or 
shades, the edge of the fin dusky ; the other fins 
are more or less dusky, with yellowish shades. 



The Channel Fishes 333 

Along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts it resorts 
to sandy shoals in rather shallow water, but along 
the Florida Keys it is found also about rocky 
bars, and on the Gulf coast is often on grassy 
flats, or wherever crabs, shrimp, beach-fleas, and 
other crustaceans abound, on which it feeds, prin- 
cipally, though it is also fond of the young fry of 
other fishes. It is an excellent pan-fish, of deli- 
cious flavor, and is a favorite wherever its merits 
are known. It grows to a length of ten inches, 
sometimes to twelve or fifteen inches in favorable 
localities, but in Florida is mostly from six to 
eight inches in length. It spawns in the spring 
in April and May. 

It is much sought after in Chesapeake Bay, and 
is a favorite food-fish at Norfolk, Virginia, where 
it is known as hog-fish. It grows there some- 
what larger, and is also a favorite fish with an- 
glers. The lightest tackle must be employed for 
its capture, and hooks Nos. 2 to 3, on gut snells, 
for it has a small mouth. Sea-crawfish, crab, 
shrimp, beach-fleas, and other crustaceans are 
the best baits, though cut conch and fish will 
answer pretty well. It is a bottom feeder, and 
sinkers must be used to keep the bait near the 
fish. 



334 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

THE PORK-FISH 

{^Anisotremns virginiciis) 

Another pan-fish of the grunt family {HcBmu- 
lidcB) is the pork-fish, a handsome and beautifully- 
marked species. It was named by Linnaeus, in 
1758, from South America, though why he called 
it virgminis, " Virginia," is not known. It is a 
tropical fish, its range extending from the Florida 
Keys to Brazil. It is very abundant in the vicin- 
ity of Key West, and is seen in the markets daily. 

It has a short, compressed body, its depth be- 
ing half of its length, with the back very much 
elevated. Its head is short compared with its 
height, with a very steep profile, slightly convex 
in front and very much arched at the nape. The 
mouth is quite small, with thick lips ; the jaws 
are armed with bands of sharp, pointed teeth, the 
outer row enlarged. The ground color of the 
body is pearly gray; an oblique black bar, as 
wide as the eye, extends from the nape through 
the eye to the angle of the mouth ; another 
broader and jet-black vertical bar extends from 
the front of the dorsal fin to the base of the pec- 
toral fin; the interspace between the bars is 
pearly gray, with yellow spots, becoming conflu- 



The Channel Fishes 335 

ent above ; beginning at the vertical bar and 
extending backward are half a dozen deep yellow, 
longitudinal, and parallel stripes, the lower ones 
reaching the caudal fin ; all of the fins are deep 
yellow. 

The pork-fish resorts to the reefs and coralline 
rocks, feeding on crustaceans, small marine inver- 
tebrates, and small, soft-shelled mollusks, which it 
crushes with the blunt teeth in its throat. Its 
usual size runs from half a pound to a pound, but 
occasionally grows to two pounds. It should be 
fished for with very light tackle, about the same 
as used for the pig-fish, but with smaller hooks. 
No. 5 or 6, on gut snells, and cut-conch bait, 
small shrimps, and beach-fleas. 

The pork-fish has been known from the time 
of Marcgrave, over two centuries ago, from Brazil, 
and from the West Indies for many years, but 
was not recorded from the waters of the United 
States until i88i, when I collected it near Key 
West. As in the case of the yellow grunt and 
the lane snapper, it is surprising that such long- 
described and well-marked and beautiful species 
should have been overlooked in our own waters 
until my collection of that year. 



336 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

THE SNAPPER FAMILY 

{LutianidcB) 

This family of perchlike fishes is related to the 
grunts on one hand, and to the groupers, or sea- 
basses, on the other. Those to be described here 
are mostly of small or moderate size, but are all 
good food-fishes and fair game-fishes. They are 
abundant along the Florida Keys, and with the 
exception of the red snapper are caught in a 
similar manner, and with the same tackle and 
baits, as the grunts. They are characterized by 
an oblong body more or less elevated and com- 
pressed; rough scales, large head and mouth; 
teeth sharp and unequal ; dorsal fin single, with 
ten or twelve spines ; anal fin similar in shape to 
soft dorsal fin, with three spines ; the caudal fin 
concave. 

Ocyurus chrysurus. The Yellow-tail. The yellow-tail differs from 
the other snappers in the formation of the skull, the peculiar 
form of its body, the large, deeply-forked caudal fin, and the 
presence of pterygoid teeth. Its body is elliptical, with regu- 
larly-arched back ; head 3 ; depth 3 ; scales 7-65-15 ; D. X, 13 ; 
A. Ill, 9; mouth small, oblique, the lower jaw projecting, max- 
illary reaching front of orbit ; snout pointed ; caudal peduncle 
long and slender ; eye small, 5 ; interorbital space very convex, 
with median keel ; upper jaw with a narrow band of viUiform 
teeth, outside of which is a single series of larger teeth, several 
in front being caninelike ; a large, oval patch of teeth on tongue ; 



The Channel Fishes 337 

an arrow-shaped patch on the vomer; a narrow band of 
pterygoid teeth in the adult ; gill-rakers long and slender, 
8 + 21. 

Lutiamcs synagris. The Lane Snapper. Body oblong and com- 
pressed, back arched and slightly elevated ; profile almost 
straight ; head 2f ; depth 2| ; eye 5 ; scales 8-60-15 \ D. X, 12 ; 
A. Ill, 8; mouth moderate, maxillary reaching front of orbit; 
interorbital space gently convex ; upper jaw with a narrow band 
of villiform teeth, outside of which a single series of enlarged 
ones ; lower jaw with villiform band in front only, the row of 
larger teeth nearly equal in size, none of them canines ; vomer 
and tongue with each a single patch ; preopercle finely serrate, 
with coarser teeth at angle ; gill-rakers rather long, 5 -h 9 ; 4 
small canines in front of upper jaw. 

Lutianus ay a. The Red Snapper. Body rather deep, moderately 
compressed, the back well elevated, profile steep ; head i\ ; 
depth 2| ; eye 5 J ; scales 8-60-15 ; mouth rather large, maxillary 
reaching front of orbit ; snout rather pointed ; interorbital space 
strongly convex ; upper jaw with a narrow band of villiform 
teeth, and a row of small teeth outside ; lower jaw with a single 
row of small teeth, some of which are almost caninelike ; within 
these is a very narrow band of villiform teeth in front of jaw 
only ; tongue with a broad oval patch of teeth, in front of which 
a small, irregular patch ; vomer with a broad, arrow-shaped 
patch ; preopercle with serrated edge above, lower border den- 
tate ; gill-rakers moderate, 8 on lower arch ; 4 canines in front 
of upper jaw. 

Lutianus jocu. The Dog Snapper. Body comparatively deep and 
compressed; the back elevated and profile straight; head 2.\\ 
depth i\ ; eye 4| ; scales 8-56-15 ; D. X, 14 ; A. Ill, 8 ; mouth 
rather large, jaws subequal, maxillary reaching front of orbit; 
upper jaw with a narrow band of villiform teeth, a single series 
of larger ones, and 4 canines in front, 2 of them very large ; lower 
jaw with a narrow, villiform band in front only, and a series of 
larger teeth outside, some almost caninelike; tongue with a 
single patch of teeth ; an arrow-shaped patch on vomer ; pre- 
opercle finely serrate above, coarser teeth at angle ; gill-rakers 
short and thick, about 9 on lower arch, 
z 



338 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

Lutianus apodus. The Schoolmaster Snapper. Body comparatively 
deep, moderately compressed, the back elevated and profile 
straight; head 2| ; depth 2|; eye 4|; scales 6-43-13; D. X, 
14; A. Ill, 8; mouth large, maxillary reaching front of orbit; 
snout long and pointed ; interorbital space flattish ; upper jaw 
with a narrow band of villiform teeth, a single series of larger 
ones outside, and 4 canines in front, one on each side very 
large ; lower jaw with a narrow, villiform band in front, an en- 
larged series outside ; tongue with a large, single patch ; an 
arrow-shaped patch on vomer ; preopercle finely serrate above ; 
gill-rakers short and thick, about 9 on lower part of arch. 



THE YELLOW-TAIL 

{Ocyurus chrysurtis) 

The yellow-tail is a very handsome fish, and 
one of the favorite pan-fishes at Key West. It 
was named ckrysurus, or "gold-tail," by Bloch, 
in 1790, from its description by Marcgrave in his 
" Fishes of Brazil." Its habitat is from southern 
Florida to South America. It is abundant in the 
vicinity of Key West in the channels between 
the reefs and keys. 

The yellow-tail is well proportioned, compressed, 
and elliptical, being regularly curved from head to 
tail. Its head is as long as the depth of the body, 
with a pointed snout; the mouth is rather small, 
with the lower jaw projecting. The color above is 
olivaceous, or bluish, below violet ; a broad, deep 
yellow stripe runs from the snout, through the 



The Channel Fishes 339 

eye, and along the middle of the body to the 
caudal fin ; above this stripe there are a number 
of deep yellow blotches, as if made by the finger 
tips; below the broad yellow stripe are quite a 
number of narrow, parallel yellow stripes, with 
violet interspaces; the iris of the eye is scarlet; 
the very long caudal fin is entirely deep yellow, 
and the other fins are bordered with yellow. 

The yellow-tail associates with the grunts and 
porgies about the coralline rocks in the channels, 
feeding on small fishes and crustaceans. Its 
average size is ten or twelve inches in length 
and nearly a pound in weight, though it some- 
times is taken up to two feet, and three or four 
pounds. It is quite a good game-fish and very 
voracious, eagerly taking sea-crawfish, crab, conch, 
or small fish bait. Some of the large conchs, as 
Pyrula and Strombus, will furnish bait for an 
entire outing, the animal being as large as a 
child's forearm. Black-bass tackle, with hooks 
Nos. I to i-o on gut snells, will answer for the 
yellow-tail. 

THE LANE SNAPPER 

{Lutianus synagris ) 

The lane snapper is another beautiful fish com- 
mon about the reefs and keys. It was named by 



340 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

Linn^us, in 1758, who called it synagris, as 
it resembled a related fish of Europe {Dentex 
dentex)^ whose old name was synagris. Catesby 
mentioned the lane snapper in his " History of 
Carolina," in 1743. It is abundant from the 
Florida Keys to South America, and not uncom- 
mon on the west coast of Florida, as far north as 
Tampa Bay, and west to Pensacola. 

The lane snapper resembles very much the 
3'cllow-tail in the shape of its body, which is semi- 
elliptical in outline, compressed, with the back 
regularly curved from the snout to the tail; its 
depth is a little more than a third of its length. 
Its head is as long as the depth of the body ; the 
mouth is large, and the snout pointed. It is rose 
color, tinged with silver below, with a narrow 
bluish or greenish border on the top of the back ; 
the belly is white, tinged with yellow ; there are 
deep yellow stripes along the sides, with indis- 
tinct, broad, rosy cross bars ; the iris of the eye 
and the lips are scarlet ; the cheeks and gill- 
covers are rosy, with blue above ; the pectoral fins 
are pink, the lower fins yellow, the soft dorsal 
pink, the spiny dorsal translucent, with yellow 
border, and the caudal fin scarlet ; there is a large 
and conspicuous dark blotch just below the front 



The Channel Fishes 341 

part of the soft dorsal fin. The lane snapper 
feeds on small fishes and crustaceans about the 
keys and reefs, in rather shallow water. It grows 
to a foot in length, though usually about eight 
or nine inches, and is a free biter at the same baits 
as the yellowtail. 

While it is freely conceded that the highest 
branch of angling is casting the artificial fly on 
inland waters, and that the fullest measure of 
enjoyment is found only in the pursuit of the 
salmon, black-bass, trout, or grayling, it must be 
admitted that salt-water angling likewise has joys 
and pleasures that are, as Walton says, " Worthy 
the knowledge and practice of a wise man." And 
nowhere does salt-water angling offer more 
charms to the appreciative angler, or appeal to 
his sense of the curious and beautiful in nature, 
than along the keys off the southern extremity 
of the peninsula of Florida. The palm-crowned 
islets are laved by the waters of the Gulf Stream, 
as clear and bright and green as an emerald of 
the purest ray serene. Through their limpid 
depths are seen the lovely and varied tints of 
coral polyps, the graceful fronds of sea-feathers 
and sea-fans in gorgeous hues, and the curious 
and fantastic coralline caves, amid whose cran- 



342 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

nies and arches swim the most beautiful creations 
of the finny tribe, whose capture is at once a 
joy and a dehght. 

THE RED SNAPPER 

{Luiianus aya) 

The red snapper was named aya by Bloch, in 
1790, that being the Portuguese name for it in 
Brazil, according to Marcgrave. It was described 
by Goode and Bean as a new species, in 1878, and 
named blackfonii, in honor of Eugene G. Black- 
ford, of New York, in consideration of his eminent 
services and interest in fishculture. The red 
snapper, while not a game-fish, is one of the best 
known of Florida fishes, inasmuch as it is shipped 
all over the country as a good dinner fish, its 
fine, firm flesh bearing transportation well. It is 
especially abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, in 
water from ten to fifty fathoms deep, on the 
" snapper banks," from ten to fifty miles offshore, 
and thence south to Brazil, occasionally straying 
north on the Atlantic coast to Long Island. 

The depth of its body is a little more than a 
third of its length, being rather deep and com- 
pressed, the back elevated and regularly arched 
from the eye to the tail. The head is large, its 



The Channel Fishes 343 

length equal to the depth of the body, with a 
pointed snout, large mouth, and straight profile. 
The color of the red snapper is a uniform rose- 
red, paler on the throat; fins all red, the vertical 
fins bordered with dusky blue; there is a dark 
blotch under the front of the soft portion of the 
dorsal fin, except in the oldest and largest fish; 
the iris of the eye is scarlet. 

The red snapper, being a deep-water fish, is 
seldom found along the shores, and is of no im- 
portance to the angler. It is a bottom fish, feed- 
ing in company with the large groupers on small 
fishes and crustaceans. It grows to twenty or 
thirty pounds, but its usual size is from five to 
ten pounds. It spawns in summer. 

The commercial fishing for the red snapper 
is done on the " snapper banks " in very deep 
water. Strong hand-lines and codfish hooks are 
used, with cut bait. By the time the fish is 
brought to the surface from the bottom it is 
almost exhausted, and would afford no sport to 
the angler. The bringing of the fish from depths 
where the pressure of the water is so great, to the 
surface, where it is comparatively so much less, 
causes the fish to swell up, and the air-bladder to 
be so filled that the fish would float ; it is there* 



344 l^^J^^s, Pike, and Percb 

fore pricked with a sharp awl to let out the air, 
as otherwise the fish would not sink in the well 
of the vessel in which it is carried alive to port. 

THE DOG SNAPPER 

(^Liiiianus jocit) 

The dog snapper is very similar in shape to 
the red snapper, but is much smaller and of dif- 
ferent coloration. It was named Jocu by Bloch, 
in 1801, from Parra's description, in I'jSj, jocu 
being the Cuban name of the fish. It is called 
dog snapper, owing to its large canine teeth. Its 
range extends from the South Atlantic coast to 
Brazil. It is abundant along the Florida Keys, 
and very rarely strays along the Atlantic coast 
northward, but has been taken on the Massachu- 
setts coast in summer. 

It has a robust, somewhat compressed body, 
its depth a third of its length, and the back 
elevated over the shoulder. Its head is large, 
somewhat longer than the depth of the body, 
with a straight profile and a rather long and 
pointed snout. The ground color of the body 
is dull red or coppery, dark olivaceous or bluish 
on the back, with about a dozen lighter-colored 
vertical stripes across the body ; the cheeks and 



The Channel Fishes 345 

gill-covers are red, with a pale area from the eye 
to the angle of the mouth ; there is a row of small, 
round blue spots from the snout to the angle of 
the gill-cover, also a bluish or dusky stripe ; the 
upper fins and the caudal fin are mostly orange 
in color ; the lower fins are yellow, and the iris of 
the eye red. 

The dog snapper, like the other snappers, feeds 
on small fishes and crustaceans. It grows to a 
foot in length and to a pound or two in weight. 
It is a good food-fish, selling readily in the mar- 
kets. It is quite gamy and voracious, and with 
light tackle is worthy of the angler's skill. Hooks 
No. i-o or 2-0 on gut snells, and sea-crawfish, 
or a small minnow, are good baits. 

THE SCHOOLMASTER 

(^LutiaiiHs apodus) 

The schoolmaster snapper was named by Wal- 
baum, in 1792, based on Catesby's description and 
figure of the schoolmaster in his " History of Caro- 
lina," but in his figure he omitted the pectoral fins, 
for which reason Walbaum named it apoda, mean- 
ing " without a foot." Its range extends from 
the Florida Keys to Brazil, and is abundant in 
the vicinity of Key West, where it is seen daily 



346 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

in the markets. Under favorable conditions of 
temperature it has been taken on the Massachu- 
setts coast. 

The schoolmaster is very similar to the dog 
snapper in its general form, but differs greatly in 
coloration. Its body is rather deep and com- 
pressed, its depth being more than a third of its 
length, and the back is more elevated than in the 
dog snapper. The head is large, as long as the 
depth of the body, with a large mouth ; the pro- 
file is straight from snout to the nape, thence 
regularly arched to the tail ; the snout is long 
and pointed. The predominating color is orange, 
olivaceous on the back and top of the head, with 
eight or nine vertical bars across the body, equi- 
distant, of a pale or bluish white color, the wider 
interspaces being red ; the cheeks and gill-covers 
are red, with a row of small blue spots from the 
snout across the cheeks, just below the eye ; all 
of the fins are yellow, more or less shaded with 
red. 

The schoolmaster grows to about the same size 
as the dog snapper, usually from eight to ten 
inches, sometimes to a foot in length, and a 
pound or two in weight. It feeds on small 
fishes, crabs, and other crustaceans, and is a good 



The Channel Fishes 347 

food-fish. It is a fairly good game-fish, and on 
light tackle fights with vigor and considerable 
resistance. Sproat hooks Nos. i-o and 2-0 are 
quite suitable, and should be tied on gut snells. 
A sinker adapted to the strength of the tide must 
be used in the deep-water channels. Sea-craw- 
fish, anchovies, or whirligig mullets are good 
baits. 

The mangrove snapper [Lutianus griseus) 
and the mutton-fish {LuHanus analis) are larger 
snappers and better game-fishes. They are 
described in another volume of this series. 

THE PORGY FAMILY 

{SparidcB) 

The porgies of Florida belong to the family 
Sparida; previously described, but not to the 
same genus as the northern porgy, as the scup is 
sometimes called. They are characterized by a 
deep, compressed body, humpbacked, with a large 
head and deep snout, and with a knob in front of 
the eye. The mouth is small, with strong, canine- 
like teeth and molars. 

Calamus bajonado. The Jolt-head Porgy. Body oblong, com- 
pressed and elevated over the shoulders ; head 3 ; depth 2f ; 
eye 3; scales 7-54-17; D. XII, 12; A. Ill, 10; anterior profile 
evenly curved ; mouth moderate, maxillary not reaching front 



34^ Bass, Pike, and Percb 

of eye; snout long and pointed; teeth strong, conical; anterior 
teeth enlarged, 2 or 3 on each side in the upper jaw, and 3 or 4 
on each side in the lower ; molars in 3 series in the upper, and 
2 in the lower jaw ; dorsal fin single with slender spines. 

Calamus cahumts. The Saucer-eye Porgy. Body oblong, elevated 
more than the other porgies ; head 3I ; depth 2 ; eye 3f ; scales 
9-54-16; D. XII, 12; A. Ill, 10; anterior profile steep ; out- 
line of snout slightly curved ; mouth small, maxillary not reach- 
ing front of eye; outer teeth strong, 10 or 12 in number, the 
outer one in each jaw, on each side, caninelike ; dorsal spines 
rather strong. 

Calamus proridens. The Little-head Porgy. Body oblong and 
much elevated ; head 3J ; depth 2] ; eye 4; scales 9-58-16; D. 
XII, 12; A. Ill, 10; anterior profile steep and straight ; mouth 
moderate, maxillary scarcely reaching front of eye; anterior 
teeth of outer series slightly longer and more robust than those 
of the cardiform band; on each side of the upper jaw one of 
these teeth becomes much enlarged, caninelike, directed ob- 
liquely forward and downward, and strongly curved, the upper 
surface concave ; there are usually 7 teeth of the outer series 
between these two canines ; no evident accessory series of 
molars; dorsal spines slender and high. 

Calamus arctifrons. The Grass Porgy. Body oblong, but little 
elevated; head 3^ ; depth 2* ; eye 4| ; scales 6-48-13 ; D. XII, 
12; A. Ill, 10; anterior profile unevenly curved, very convex 
before the eye ; head narrow above ; dorsal outline not forming 
a regular arch ; a rather sharp angle at nape ; preorbital deep ; 
canine teeth, 8 in upper jaw and 10 in lower. 

THE JOLT-HEAD PORGY 

{Calamus bajonado) 

This is the largest and most abundant of the 
porgies. It was described by Bloch, in 1801, 
who named it bajonado, after the Cuban name 
given by Parra in his " Natural History of Cuba." 




THE JOLT-HEAD PORGY 
Calamus bajonado 




THE LADY-FISH 
Albula imlpes 




THE COBIA 
Rachycentron canadus 



The Channel Fishes 349 

It is not certain what the name is intended to 
signify. It may allude to the "bayonet-like," 
interhaemal bones, or to dajio, meaning a " sand- 
bank " or "shoal," in allusion to its habitat. The 
jolt-head is abundant along the Florida Keys, 
especially in the vicinity of Key West, where it 
is one of the commonest market fishes ; its range 
extends to the West Indies. 

It has a short, deep body, compressed, its depth 
being half its length ; its back is more regularly 
arched than in the other porgies, or not so hump- 
backed. The head is large, with a long, pointed 
snout, and mouth moderate in size ; the profile is 
more regularly curved than in the other porgies. 

The predominating color is dusky or bluish, 
with brassy reflections ; the upper fins are pale or 
bluish, more or less mottled with darker shades ; 
the lower fins are plain ; the cheeks are coppery 
in hue. 

The jolt-head resorts to the rocks and reefs, 
as well as to hard, sandy shoals, feeding on small 
fishes, crustaceans, and soft-shelled mollusks. It 
grows usually to eight or ten inches, but often 
to two feet in length, and six or eight pounds in 
weight. It is a good food-fish, much in favor 
with the people of Key West, and is always one 



350 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

of the commonest fishes in the markets. It 
spawns in the summer. It is very voracious, 
taking ahnost any kind of bait greedily. It is 
caught in company with the grunts and snappers, 
and on the same tackle, which should be light. 
Hooks Nos. I to 2 are large enough, Sproat-bend 
preferred on account of its short barb with cutting 
edges and strong wire. Sinkers adapted to the 
tide and depth of water must be used. 

While catching porgies at a lively rate one day 
I asked my boatman, a Bahama negro, why the 
big porgy was called "jolt-head." He answered 
in the cockney dialect peculiar to Bahama fisher- 
men : " Veil, you see, sir, e 'as a big 'ed and an 
'ump back, and 'e butts the rocks like a billy-goat, 
a-joltin' off the snail-shells and shrimps, and 'e 
goes a-blunderin' along like a wessel that 'as a 
bluff bow and a small 'elm. 'E 'as more happetite 
than gumption, and swallers anythink that comes 
'andy, like the jolt-'ed or numbskull that 'e is. 
'E is werry heasy to ketch and werry good to 
heat." 

THE SAUCER-EYE PORGY 

(^Caldmiis cti/aMus) 

This porgy is called " saucer-eye," owing to its 
having a larger eye than the other porgies. It 




TAKING BONITO BY TROLLING OFF BLOCK ISLAND 



The Channel Fishes 351 

was first described by Cuvier and Valenciennes, 
in 1830, from the West Indies. They named it 
calamus, meaning " quill " or " reed," from the quill- 
like bones (interhasmal) that articulate with the 
spines of the anal fin. It is abundant in the West 
Indies, and is common about the Florida Keys, 
but not so plentiful as the jolt-head or little-head 
porgies. 

It is very similar in conformation to the jolt- 
head, but is more humpbacked, being quite 
elevated above the shoulder. The body is short, 
its depth about half its length. Its head is short 
and deep, with a thin and gibbous profile, and 
small mouth. Its color is silvery with bluish 
reflections ; the scales golden, forming longitu- 
dinal stripes, with pearly-bluish interspaces; the 
cheeks and snout are purplish, with round brassy 
spots ; the fins are pale, blotched with orange ; 
the iris of the eye is golden. 

The saucer-eye grows to twelve or fifteen 
inches in length, and is considered a good pan- 
fish at Key West, commanding a ready sale. It is 
found in the same situations as the other porgies, 
grunts, and snappers, and is equally voracious, 
taking the proffered bait eagerly. The tackle for 
this porgy is the same as for the others, consisting 



352 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

of a light rod, multiplying reel, braided linen line, 
size F or G, three-foot leader, Sproat-bend hooks. 
No. I or 2, on gut snells, with sinker in accord- 
ance with the depth of the water and the strength 
of the tide. Almost any bait will answer, as sea- 
crawfish, cut conch, or fish. 

THE LITTLE-HEAD PORGY 

(^Calamus proridetis') 

This species was first described by Jordan and 
Gilbert, in 18S3, from Key West. They named 
it proridens, meaning " prow tooth," owing to its 
projecting canines. It is abundant in the West 
Indies, and is quite common about Key West and 
the neighboring keys. It is one of the smallest 
and prettiest of the porgies, and is called little- 
head in contradistinction to the jolt-head or big- 
head porg}\ It is almost identical in shape to 
the saucer-eye porgy, both in head and body. 

It is brighter in color than the other porgies, 
being quite silvery with iridescent reflections ; the 
scales of the upper part of the body have violet 
spots, forming longitudinal streaks ; those on the 
lower part have pale orange spots ; the sides 
have several dark bands ; the snout and cheeks 
have horizontal, wavy stripes of violet-blue ; the 



The Channel Fishes 353 

dorsal fin is violet, with orange border ; the anal 
fin is blue ; the caudal fin has an orange band. It 
is of similar habits to the other porgies, and found 
with them, but is less common. It is a good pan- 
fish, growing only to six or eight inches in length. 

The little-head porgy, though small in size, is 
equally as voracious as the other porgies, and is 
well worth catching if only to admire its beauty. 
The same tackle will answer as for the others, 
or more especially that mentioned for the saucer- 
eye, and the same baits can be employed. 

My Bahama negro boatman, alluded to under 
the jolt-head, continued his dissertation on the 
porgies somewhat in this wise : " Now, sir, the 
little-'ed porgy is a cute little chap ; 'e gits to 
vind'ard o' the big-'ed, hevry time. 'E doesn't 
butt 'is 'ed aginst the rocks, a-knockin' the shells, 
but 'e 'as two long teeth like gouge-chisels, and 
'e jist scoops hoff the crawlin' things from the 
rock-patches as 'andsome as you like. Little-'ed 
little wit ; big-'ed not a bit ! " 

THE GRASS PORGY 

{Calamus ardifrons) 

This pretty porgy was first described by Goode 
and Bean, in 1882, from Pensacola, Florida. They 



354 Bt^ss, Pike, and Perch 

named it arcli/rons, meaning "contracted fore- 
head," owing to the narrow forehead. It has a 
more extended range in the Gulf of Mexico than 
the other porgies, being common in grassy situa- 
tions from Pensacola to Key West ; it is not 
known from the West Indies. 

The general outline of the grass porgy is very 
similar to that of the saucer-eye and little-head 
porgies, though the back is not quite so elevated ; 
the profile is unevenly curved, being quite convex 
in front of the eye. The mouth is slightly larger 
than in the saucer-eye. Its color is olivaceous, 
with dark spots, and several dark vertical bars 
across the body ; many of the scales have pearly 
spots; there are several yellow spots along the 
lateral line ; the cheeks are brownish, with yellow 
shades ; the upper fins are barred or spotted ; 
the lower fins are paler. 

It is the smallest of the porgies, but one of 
the prettiest. It grows to six or eight inches in 
length. It is mentioned incidentally with the 
others of its family in order that it may be known 
to anglers who are so fortunate as to catch it 
and admire it. The same tackle and bait 
employed for the others are suitable. It is found 
usually in grassy situations. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

MISCELLANEOUS FISHES 

THE LADY-FISH 

{Albula vtdpes) 

Albula vulpes. The Lady-fish. Body rather elongate, little com- 
pressed, covered with rather small, brilliantly-silvery scales ; 
head naked ; snout conic, subquadrangular, shaped like the 
snout of a pig, and overlapping the small, inferior, horizontal 
mouth; head 3I; depth 4; scales 9-71-7 ; D. 15; A. 8 ; max- 
illary rather strong, short, with a distinct supplemental bone, 
slipping under the membraneous edge of the very broad pre- 
orbital ; premaxillaries short, not protractile ; lateral margin of 
upper jaw formed by the maxillaries ; both jaws, vomer and 
palatines, with bands of villiform teeth ; broad patches of coarse, 
blunt, paved teeth on the tongue behind and on the sphenoid 
and pterygoid bones ; opercle moderate, firm ; preopercle with 
a broad, flat, membraneous edge, which extends backward over 
the base of the opercle ; gill membranes separate ; no gular 
plate ; a fold of skin across gill membranes, its free edge crenate ; 
belly flattish, covered with ordinary scales, not carinate ; eye 
large, with a bony ridge above it, and almost covered with an 
annular adipose eyelid. 

The lady-fish, or bonefish, is the only repre- 
sentative of the family Albulidce. It has long 
been known to science through the early voyagers 
to the southern coasts of America. It was first 
described by Marcgrave in his " History of Bra- 
zil," in 1648, and afterward by Catesby, in his 
355 



356 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

"History of the Carolinas," in 1737, and named 
vulpes, or "fox," by Linnceus, in 1758, from a 
specimen taken at the Bahamas. 

It inhabits the sandy shores of all warm seas 
and is, perhaps, the most cosmopolitan of all 
game-fishes, being known from Asia, Arabia, 
North and South America, the Pacific Islands, 
etc. It is common on the coasts of the Atlantic 
and Pacific in the United States, and is especially 
abundant in Florida waters, occasionally straying 
in summer as far north as Lonsf Island. 

The lady-fish is allied to the herring tribe. It 
has a long, gracefully-shaped body, nearly round, 
or but little compressed ; its depth is a fourth of 
its length ; it has a long head with a projecting, 
piglike snout, overlapping the small mouth, which 
is well armed with teeth ; both jaws and the roof 
of the mouth in front have bands of brushlike 
teeth, with patches of coarse, blunt, paved teeth 
on the back of the mouth and tongue. Its color 
is bluish green above, with metallic reflections ; 
the sides are very bright and silvery, with faint 
streaks along the rows of scales; the belly is 
white, and it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans. 

Its spawning habits are not well understood, 
though the young pass through a metamorphosis. 



Miscellaneous Fishes 357 

being band-shaped, with very small head and 
loose, transparent tissues. I have found them 
abundant on the Gulf coast of Florida. The 
lady-fish grows to a length of from one to three 
feet, and to a weight of from one to twelve pounds, 
though it is usually taken from two to five 
pounds. It is a good food-fish, highly esteemed 
at Key West and in the Bermudas by those who 
know it best. 

For its size it is one of the gamest fishes of 
the seacoast. When hooked it fights as much 
in the air as in the water, continually leaping 
above the surface like an animated silver shuttle, 
to which I likened it more than twenty years ago. 
It is now becoming better known to anglers who 
visit Florida in the winter season, who recognize 
in it much more enjoyable sport on light tackle 
than they can obtain with the heavy tools required 
for the tarpon and jewfish. 

A black-bass rod, or the Little Giant rod of 
eight ounces, is light enough, as a heavier fish 
than the lady-fish is apt to be hooked. A good 
multiplying reel and fifty yards of braided linen 
line, size F, and Sproat hooks. No. i or 2, on 
gut snells, will be found eminently suitable. No 
sinker is needed, as the fishing is done on the 



358 Bass, Pike, and Perch ' 

surface, though a small brass box-swivel may be 
used to connect the snell and line, as in black- 
bass fishing. A leader is not necessary, but it 
may be used if thought best. 

The bait may be a beach-flea, or a very small, 
silvery fish, as a sardine, pilchard, or mullet, 
though a small shell squid, or a trolling-spoon 
of the size of a nickel, with a single hook, may 
be employed in lieu of live bait, and is quite 
successful if kept in constant motion. The min- 
now is to be hooked through the lips and cast 
as in black-bass fishing, reeling it in slowly on 
or near the surface. 

The fishing may be done from any convenient 
place near a pass or inlet on the flood tide. A 
sand-spit at the entrance, or a boat anchored just 
within the inlet, are desirable places, though good 
fishing is sometimes available from the end of 
a pier in a tideway. Fine fishing may also be 
had at other stages of the tide about offshore 
reefs and shoals. I have taken the lady-fish, with 
both fly and bait, in Biscayne Bay, in Cards and 
Barnes sounds, along the keys to Key West, and 
at nearly every inlet on the Gulf coast, as far 
north as Pass-a-Grille, above Tampa Bay, and 
usually found it associated with the ten-pounder. 



Miscellaneous Fishes 359 

The lady-fish, when hooked, will probably as- 
tonish the angler who is attached to one for the 
first time, by its aerial gyrations and quick move- 
ments. But the rod must be held at an angle 
of forty-five degrees, so as to maintain a taut line, 
notwithstanding its constant leaping; for if any 
slack line is given, it is almost sure to shake out 
the hook. And as the leaps are made in such 
quick succession, the only safe plan is to keep 
the rod bent, either in giving or taking line, or 
when holding the fish on the strain of the rod. 

The lady-fish will often take a gaudy black- 
bass fly, in which event a black-bass fly-rod or a 
heavy trout fly-rod will come handy, with corre- 
sponding tackle. A heavy braided linen line, size 
D, is better suited for salt water than the en- 
amelled silk line, and will cast a fly nearly as well. 
The flies advised for the Spanish mackerel will 
answer as well for the lady-fish, though I have 
found the silver-doctor and coachman both very 
taking toward dusk, which is the most favorable 
time for fly-fishing, though the first half of the 
flood tide and the last half of the ebb are usually 
both favorable times about the inlets. 

Twenty years or more ago I called the atten- 
tion of northern anglers to the lady-fish, or 



360 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

bone-fish, and the ten-pounder, or bony-fish, as 
game-fishes of high degree, and accorded equal 
praise to both species as to gameness. I have 
never been able to convince myself as to which 
is entitled to the palm ; but they are both good 
enough, and comparisons are indeed odious as 
between them. I am glad to note that they are 
coming to the front and their merits at last rec- 
ognized. Of late years northern anglers are 
having great sport with the lady-fish on Biscayne 
Bay; but judging from their communications in 
the sportsman's journals, they are confusing the 
lady-fish with the ten-pounder. This is easily 
accounted for, inasmuch as they are usually of 
about the same size, and have very much the 
same general appearance in form and bright 
silvery coloration ; and moreover there is a con- 
fusion attending their vernacular names, as the 
lady-fish is sometimes known as bony-fish. It 
should be remembered that the lady-fish has an 
overhanging, piglike snout and larger scales, 
while the ten-pounder has a terminal mouth with 
the jaws about equal, and smaller scales. More- 
over, the bony-fish, or ten-pounder, has a bony 
plate under the lower jaw, like the tarpon, which 
is absent in the lady-fish. Both are cosmopolitan, 



Miscellaneous Fishes 361 

Inhabiting the warm seas of both continents. 
They have been known to science for a century 
and a half, and have been described by many 
naturaHsts from different parts of the world. The 
current specific names were both bestowed by 
Linnaeus. Catesby, in 1837, called the lady-fish 
{Aldula vulpes) of the Bahamas " bone-fish," while 
Captain William Dampier, one of the early ex- 
plorers, called the bony-fish {Elops saurus) of the 
Bahamas " ten-pounder." The fishermen of Key 
West usually know the lady-fish as bone-fish, and 
the ten-pounder as bony-fish. The best plan for 
anglers is to adopt the names lady-fish and ten- 
pounder for them, and relegate or ignore the 
names bone-fish, bony-fish, and skip-jack. 

THE TEN-POUNDER 

{Elops saurus) 

Elops saurus. The Ten-pounder. Body elongate, covered with 
small, silvery scales ; head 4} ; depth 6 ; eye 4, large ; scales 
1 2-1 20-1 3; D. 20; A. 13; dorsal fin slightly behind ventrals, 
its last rays short, depressible into a sheath of scales ; anal fin 
smaller, similarly depressible ; pectoral and ventral fins moder- 
ate, each with a long, accessory scale ; opercular bones thin, with 
expanded membraneous borders ; a scaly occipital collar ; gular 
plate 3 to 4 times as long as broad; pseudobranchiae large; 
lateral line straight, its tubes simple. 

The ten-pounder, or bony-fish, belongs to the 
same family, ElopidcB, as the tarpon, and both are 



362 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

allied to the herring tribe. The ten-pounder was 
first described by Linnaeus, in 1776, from speci- 
mens sent to him from South Carolina by Dr. 
Garden. He named it saurus, or "lizard," but 
there is nothing lizard-like about the ten-pounder. 
I imagine that Dr. Garden sent the fish under 
the name of " lizard," from hearing it called by its 
Spanish name of "lisa," which is pronounced 
much like lizard. The ten-pounder was men- 
tioned by some of the old voyagers to the West 
Indies and Carolinas. Like the lady-fish, the ten- 
pounder is a cosmopolitan, existing in the warm 
seas of both hemispheres. In the United States 
it is common to the southern portions of the 
Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Gulf of 
Mexico. 

In the general aspect and contour of its silvery 
body the ten-pounder has much the appearance 
of the lady-fish, and has been often confounded 
with it by anglers. Its body, however, is more 
slender than that of the lady-fish, with smaller 
scales and a very different head and mouth ; the 
lady-fish has a piglike, overhanging snout, while 
the lower jaw of the ten-pounder projects slightly. 
The depth of the body of the ten-pounder is only 
about a sixth of its length, and the body is not 



Miscellaneous Fishes 363 

much compressed, being nearly round. The head 
is long and pointed, with a very wide mouth, with 
upper and lower lips nearly equal, or terminal. 
The eye is large, hence one of its names, big- 
eyed herring. There are many series of small 
and sharp cardlike teeth on the jaws, tongue, and 
roof of the mouth. There is a bony plate beneath 
the lower jaw. 

The color on the back is greenish or bluish, 
the sides silvery and bright, and belly white ; the 
top of the head is greenish, with bronze reflec- 
tions ; the cheeks have a golden lustre ; the lower 
fins are tinged with yellow, the others dusky. 

Its habits are not unlike those of the lady-fish, 
and they often associate. It feeds principally on 
crustaceans and also on small fishes. It frequents 
sandy shoals and banks in shallow water at high 
tide, also grassy situations where its food abounds. 
Its breeding habits are not well understood, 
though, like the lady-fish, its young pass through 
a larval form, and are ribbon-shaped. It grows to 
a length of two feet or more, and weighs several 
pounds, sometimes ten or more. It is quite bony, 
and is not considered a good food-fish, but excels 
as a game-fish, being equal to the lady-fish in this 
respect. 



364 BiJss, Piki, and Pttib 

The same tackle as that recommended for its 
congener, the lady-fish, answers just as well for the 
ten-pounder, and it can be fished for in the same 
locations. It frequents shallow water on the 
grassy banks and sandy shoals rather more than 
the lady-fish, and can be sought there accordingly, 
as well as at the inlets when the tide is making. 

Both the ten-pounder and the lady-fish are 
warm-water fishes. They are to be found in 
Biscayne Hay and along the neighboring keys 
during winter, and as the water becomes warmer 
they extend their range northward on both coasts. 
After the disastrous frosts that occurred during 
the winters of 1886 and 1895 in Florida, I saw 
windrows of dead ten-pounders, lady-fishes, and 
tarpon on the beaches about Charlotte Harbor. 
They had become chilled from the sudden lower- 
ing of the temperature. I have caught both the 
ten-pounder and lady-fish as far north as Tampa 
Bay on the west coast of Florida, and Indian River 
Inlet on the east coast. My fishing was mostly 
done from the points of inlets and passes, on the 
flood tide, and usually with the artificial fly, in 
shallow water, the time and places mentioned be- 
ing the most favorable for fly-fishing. At other 
times I have fished on the shallow bars and grassy 



Miscellaneous Fishes 365 

banks, using such crustaceans as fiddlers, beach- 
fleas, and shrimps for bait, alternated with small 
minnows. When beach-fleas are used a fly-rod is 
preferable and the hook should be smaller than 
where other bait is employed; No. 4 is about right, 
if of the Sproat or O'Shaughnessy pattern, they be- 
ing of larger and stronger wire than other patterns. 
If beach-fleas are used with a bait-rod, a small 
sinker must be added to give weight to the cast. 
The ten-pounder snaps at the bait or fly in the 
manner of most fishes, and is off immediately in 
a wild whirl, skimming through the water, if 
shallow, in a way to astonish the angler who 
hooks one for the first time. Then follows a 
series of brilliant leaps and aerial contortions that 
commands the admiration of the coldest-blooded 
fisher. The lady-fish, however, owing to the 
position of its mouth, being underneath its pro- 
jecting snout, does not at first take the bait with 
the vim and snap of the ten-pounder, but appar- 
ently nibbles or mouths it for a while, but when 
hooked displays the same energy and desperate 
efforts to escape as its congener. The consistent 
angler may truly exclaim with Pope : — 

" How happy could I be with either. 
Were t'other dear charmer away." 



366 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

THE SNOOK, OR ROVALLIA 

( Centropotnus undecimalis) 

Centroponius undecimalis. The Snook. Body elongate, with ele- 
vated back and straight abdomen ; head 3 ; depth 4 ; eye 7 ; 
scales 9-75-16; D. VIII-I, 10; A. Ill, 6; head depressed, 
pikelike, the lower jaw projecting ; villiform teeth in bands on 
jaws, vomer, and palatines ; tongue smooth ; dorsal fins well 
separated ; preorbital faintly serrated ; subopercular flap extend- 
ing nearly to dorsal fin ; maxillary to middle of eye ; gill-rakers 
4 + 9- 

The snook belongs to the family Centropomidce, 
which embraces a dozen or more species, most of 
which inhabit the West Indies and the southern 
Pacific coast, and are all good game-fishes. The 
snook was first described by Bloch from Jamaica, 
in 1792; he named it undecimalis, or "eleven," 
as the soft dorsal fin has eleven rays. The name 
snook was mentioned as the name of this fish by 
the early explorers, among whom was Captain 
William Dampier, who also mentioned several 
others, as " ten-pounders," " cavallies," " tarpoms," 
etc. Snook is derived from " snoek," the Dutch 
name for the pike, which it resembles slightly in 
the shape of the head, though it is more like the 
pike-perch in its structure and appearance. On 
the east coast of Florida this fish is known as the 
snook, and on the Gulf coast as rovallia, the latter 



Miscellaneous Fishes 367 

name being a corruption of its Spanish name 
robalo, by which it is known in Havana. It is 
sometimes called sergeant-fish, from the black 
stripe along its sides. It is common along the 
shores of the Gulf of Mexico, from Texas to 
the West Indies, and is especially abundant in 
the bays and lagoons of both coasts of Florida, 
often ascending the rivers to fresh water. 

It has a long, robust, and nearly round body, its 
depth being a fourth of its length ; the back is 
slightly elevated and arched. The head is long 
and depressed, or flat, and is more than a third of 
the total length of the body; the mouth is large, 
with a projecting lower jaw ; the gill-cover is very 
long; there are brushlike teeth on the jaws and 
the roof of the mouth, but no sharp or conical 
teeth as in the pike or pike-perch. 

The color of the back is olive-green, the sides 
silvery, and the belly white ; there is a distinct 
and very black stripe along the side, following 
the lateral line from the head to the caudal fin ; 
the dorsal fins are dusky; the lower fins are 
yellowish. 

The snook is a very voracious fish, feeding on 
fishes, crabs, and other crustaceans, and resorts 
to sandy shoals and grassy flats where its food 



368 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

is found. It grows to a length of two or three 
feet, and a weight of twenty or thirty pounds. It 
is a fair food-fish, though not held in much favor 
in Florida where so many better food-fishes are 
common. It is better flavored if skinned instead 
of scaled. 

It is a strong, active game-fish, that, when 
hooked, starts off with a rush that is dangerous 
to light tackle, and its subsequent manoeuvres 
require very careful handling when it is of a 
large size. It has smashed many light rods in 
the hands of anglers who were not aware of its 
pugnacity. It will take any kind of natural bait, 
and rises well to the artificial fly. 

A rather heavy black-bass rod or a light 
striped-bass rod is required for the large fish of 
the bays and estuaries, though ordinary black- 
bass tackle will answer for those of less weight 
at the mouths of streams, or in fresh water, to 
which it often resorts. A good multiplying reel 
and fifty yards of braided linen line are sufficient, 
though one hundred yards will not be amiss, as 
large fishes of other species are very apt to be 
hooked in Florida waters. Sproat or O'Shaugh- 
nessy hooks, Nos. i-o to 3-0, on heavy gut 
snells are required, with a brass box-swivel to 



Miscellaneous Fishes 369 

connect the snell with the reel Hne ; a sinker 
may be used or not, depending on the strength 
of the tide, though the fishing is usually prac- 
tised in quiet water, and not in the tideways. 

A small fish, mullet or sardine, or fiddler-crab 
bait, will prove very enticing to the snook, 
though the minnow is better adapted for casting. 
The fishing is much like black-bass fishing in 
fresh waters, and the snook takes the bait in its 
mouth in much the same way as a bass, starting 
off at once with a great commotion if near the 
surface. Its desperate and vigorous spurts and 
rushes are apt to put one's tackle in jeopardy if 
the fish is large, and it must be handled with 
caution and skill. 

For fly-fishing, a rod of nine or ten ounces is 
not too heavy where the fish run large. A heavy 
braided linen line, size D or E, is best for casting 
the fly in salt water. Black-bass flies of showy 
patterns, on hooks No. i or 2, as coachman, 
silver-doctor, polka, oriole, red ibis, professor, etc., 
will answer. The most favorable time is on the 
flood tide near the inlets, or toward evening if 
in quiet coves or lagoons. The fly should be 
repeatedly cast and then allowed to sink a foot or 
two. If fishing from a boat, it must be kept in 



370 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

the deeper water, and the casts made under the 
mangroves, or to the edges of sand-spits, shoals, or 
mud-flats, which abound in all bays on the west 
coast of Florida. 

The snook is easily captured by trolling with 
hand-line and the spoon or minnow, though it is 
a questionable style of sport at best. Along the 
edges of shoals and mud-flats and over grassy 
banks the snook will be found at home. A 
landing-net should always be used for any kind 
of fishing with the fly. 

THE TRIPLE-TAIL 

{Lobotes stirinatnensis) 

Lobotes surinamensis. The Triple-tail. Body oblong, deep, com- 
pressed and elevated ; head 3 ; depth 2 ; scales 47 ; head small ; 
snout short ; mouth moderate, oblique, with thick lips ; profile 
of head concave ; upper jaw very protractile ; the lower, the 
longest ; maxillary without supplemental bone ; jaws with nar- 
row bands of villiform teeth, in front of which is a row of larger 
conical teeth, directed backward ; no teeth on vomer or pala- 
tines ; preopercle strongly serrate ; maxillary reaching middle 
of orbit ; scales around eyes small, those on opercles large ; eye 
small ; small scales running up on the base of soft dorsal, anal, 
and caudal fins; caudal rounded; D. XII, 15; A. Ill, 11 ; soft 
rays of dorsal and anal fins elevated, of nearly equal size, and 
opposite each other ; anal spines graduated ; branchial rays 6. 

The triple-tail belongs to the family Lobotidcs. 
It is allied to the snapper family, but differs in 
having no teeth on the roof of the mouth. It was 



Miscellaneous Fishes 371 

first described by Bloch, in 1790, from Surinam, 
South America. He named it suriiiamensis, 
from the name of the locaHty whence his speci- 
mens were procured. There is another species 
on the Pacific coast, Lobotes pacificus, that is 
quite abundant at Panama, where it is known as 
berrugate. 

The triple-tail is known in all warm seas. Its 
range on the Atlantic coast extends from South 
America north to Cape Cod, though it is not 
abundant. I have taken it on both the east and 
west coasts of Florida. At Tampa it is called 
black snapper, and in South Carolina it is known 
as black perch. I have never heard it called 
flasher, which is said to be its name in the 
markets of New York. 

It is a short, thick, robust fish, nearly half as 
deep as long, with an elevated back, and with the 
ventral outline corresponding with its dorsal 
curve. The head is a third of the length of the 
body, its profile concave, the snout prominent, 
and the lower jaw projecting; the mouth is of 
moderate size, with thick lips. 

The color of the back is dark, or greenish black, 
the sides silvery gray, sometimes blotched and 
tinged with yellow; the fins are dusky gray or 



372 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

yellowish. In life these colors are very bright, 
but after death they become almost black. 

It feeds on small fishes, mussels, and crustaceans 
and grows to a length of two or three feet, weigh- 
ing from ten to fifteen pounds, though its usual 
size is not more than one-half of this length and 
weight. Its breeding habits are unknown. It is 
found in northern waters only during the summer 
months, but from South Carolina to Florida it is 
common all the year. 

It is a strong and vigorous fish, but rather 
slow and sluggish in its movements, and not 
remarkable for game qualities, though it pulls 
steadily and strongly when hooked. It will take 
shrimp, clam, fiddler, or small fishes as bait. 

A light striped-bass chum rod is very suitable 
for the triple-tail when of good size. A multiply- 
ing reel and fifty yards of braided linen line, hooks 
No. i-o or 2-0, on heavy gut snells, and a brass 
box-swivel, make up the rest of the tackle. A 
sinker will probably not be needed as it is usually 
found in quiet coves about sandy shoals or grassy 
flats. I have taken it on both coasts of Florida, 
though it is more common on the east coast. I 
have also caught it in Chesapeake Bay and near 
Charleston, South Carolina, but never over five 



Miscellaneous Fishes 373 

pounds in weight, though I have seen it taken in 
nets up to about ten pounds. Its short and 
rounded caudal fin, with the soft portions of the 
dorsal and anal fins, together, give the appearance 
of three tails, hence the name triple-tail, by which 
it is generally known. 

THE COBIA 

{Rachycentron canadus) 

Rachycentron canadus. The Cobia. Body elongate, fusiform, sub- 
cylindrical, covered with very small, smooth, adherent scales; 
head 4] ; depth 5I ; D. VIII-I, 26 ; A. II, 25 ; head broad, low, 
pikelike, the bones above appearing through the thin skin ; 
mouth wide, nearly horizontal, the maxillary reaching front of 
eye; both jaws, vomer, palatines, and tongue with bands of 
short, sharp teeth ; lower jaw longest ; premaxillaries not pro- 
tractile ; preopercle unarmed ; two dorsal fins, the spines of the 
first depressible in a groove ; soft dorsal long and low, some- 
what falcate, similar to, and nearly opposite, the anal ; caudal 
fin strongly forked ; no caudal keel ; no finlets ; gill-rakers short 
and stout ; pectorals broad and falcate. 

The cobia, or sergeant-fish, is the only fish of its 
family, Rachycentridce. It was first described by 
Linnaeus, in 1766, from a specimen sent to him by 
Dr. Garden from South Carolina ; it is allied to the 
mackerel tribe, and is found in all warm seas in 
the old and new worlds. On the Atlantic coast 
it is common from the Chesapeake Bay to Florida, 
but occasionally strays north to Cape Cod in the 



374 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

summer. It is rather rare on the west coast of 
Florida, but common on the east coast. 

It is a long and round-bodied fish, quite grace- 
fully formed, with a depth of about one-fifth of its 
length. The head is broad and flat, something 
like that of the pike, with a wide mouth, and with 
jaws, roof of mouth, and tongue armed with bands 
of short, sharp teeth; the lower jaw projects. 
The back is olive-brown, or dusky, the sides 
lighter and silvery, and the belly white ; a distinct 
broad and very dark stripe extends from the up- 
per jaw and through the eye to the caudal fin, 
with an indistinct one above and below, and par- 
allel with it. Owing to this dark stripe the cobia 
is sometimes called sergeant-fish, thus confound- 
ing it with the snook. 

The habits of the cobia are not unHke those of 
the pike, or mascalonge, of fresh waters, in that it 
is solitary and lies in wait for its prey, and is 
almost as rapacious. It lies under the mangroves 
and cocoa-plum bushes along Indian River and 
other streams of the east coast of Florida, watch- 
ing for stray fishes and crabs on which it feeds. 
It is commonly seen of a length of two or three 
feet, but grows considerably longer, with a weight 
of fifteen to twenty pounds. The largest I have 



Miscellaneous Fishes 375 

seen was at Key West ; it was fully five feet long. 
It is not uncommon in the Chesapeake Bay, and 
like most of the mackerel tribe it is a fairly good 
food-fish. It spawns in summer, but its breeding 
habits are not fully understood. 

As might be imagined from its shape and habits, 
it is a good game-fish, and quite strong and vigor- 
ous on the rod. It requires all of the angler's 
skill to land it safely, especially when it is taken 
about the mangroves, among whose arching and 
numerous roots it is sure to take refuge if it can 
do so. It will take a small fish bait or a crab, 
going for it with a pikelike rush. I once took 
one on Indian River with a large red ibis fly, but 
never succeeded in catching another with the 
same lure. 

A strong, rather heavy rod is necessary for the 
cobia, which the Key West fishermen call cobi-d. 
A striped-bass chum rod of natural bamboo is a 
good and serviceable tool for the work, with mul- 
tiplying reel and braided linen line, to which is 
affixed a Sproat hook. No. 3-0, on gimp snell, by 
a brass box-swivel. A sinker should not be used 
about the mangroves. 

A fiddler-crab, a mullet, or other small fish is 
hooked through the lips, and is cast from a boat 



376 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

to the edge of the mangroves or other bushes, 
in the same way as in casting for mascalonge 
in northern waters. I have never tried casting 
with a spoon, which might be successful, but a 
minnow is better by far. The cobia takes the 
bait with a fierce lunge, and turning quickly 
endeavors to return to his lair, a proceeding that 
must be thwarted by the angler at all hazards 
to his rod or tackle, for once under the arching 
roots of the mangroves he is as good as gone. 
The boat must be rowed to open water at once, 
while a strong strain is maintained by the rod on 
the fish. With open water the angler can play 
his fish with leisure, though he will be severely 
taxed by the struggles of as game a fish as he 
is likely to meet during a winter's sojourn in 
Florida. 

THE SPOTTED WEAKFISH 

( Cynoscion nebulosus') 
Cynoscion nebulosus. The Spotted Weakfish. Body rather elongate, 
compressed; head 3^ ; depth 4J ; scales 10-70-11 ; D. X-I, 26; 
A. II, 10 ; eye 7 ; snout long and acute ; mouth large, maxillary 
reaching to posterior edge of eye ; lower pharyngeals narrow, 
each with 7 or 8 series of short teeth, the inner enlarged ; max- 
illary, preorbital, and lower jaw naked ; canines in upper jaw 
strong ; lower jaw without canines, other teeth in narrow bands, 
sharp, but closely set ; membrane of preopercle serrate, the bone 
entire ; pseudobranchias well developed ; caudal lunate ; soft 
rays of dorsal and anal scaleless ; gill-rakers short and thick, 
4 + 7- 



Miscellaneous Fishes 2>77 

This fish is closely allied to the northern weak- 
fish, and belongs to the same family, ScicBnidce. 
It is known very generally in Florida as trout, 
salt-water trout, or sea-trout, owing to its spots. 
It is, of course, not a trout at all, and these 
names should be set aside ; moreover, the name 
sea-trout is preoccupied by the sea-run brook-trout 
of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Its present specific 
name, 7iebtilosus, or " clouded," was bestowed by 
Cuvier and Valenciennes, in 1830, displacing the 
earlier and better name maculatus, or " spotted," 
conferred by Dr. S. L. Mitchill, in 18 15, for rea- 
sons that it is unnecessary to refer to here. It 
is abundant from Virginia to Florida, and along 
the Gulf coast to Texas. It occasionally strays 
as far north as New Jersey. 

It is almost the counterpart of the common 
weakfish in the form of its body, the depth of 
which is about a fourth of its length, and with a 
similar head, eye, and mouth, but with somewhat 
smaller scales, and a few less rays in the second 
dorsal fin. Its mouth is large, with narrow bands 
of sharp teeth on the jaws, and two long canine 
teeth in the upper jaw. 

Its color is bluish gray on the back, with steely 
reflections, the sides are silvery and the belly 



378 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

white. The upper half of the body has numerous 
black spots, as large as the pupil of the eye, with 
smaller ones on the soft dorsal and anal fins ; the 
other fins are plainer, and the anal fin is dusky. 

The spotted weakfish is a better food-fish, and 
also a better game-fish, than its northern cousin. 
It is abundant in the bays of Florida during the 
entire year, often ascending the streams to fresh 
water. Its usual weioht is from two to four 
pounds, often of six to eight, and sometimes of 
even ten pounds or more. It appears in schools 
in March and April, often in company with the 
Spanish mackerel, and runs into brackish water 
for the purpose of spawning. It spawns in the 
spring ; the eggs are buoyant, quite small, about 
thirty to the inch, and hatch in two days. It 
feeds on small fishes and crustaceans. 

All things considered, it is one of the best 
game-fishes of Florida. It is a surface feeder 
and takes the artificial fly eagerly, as well as 
natural bait, or the artificial squid and trolling- 
spoon. With light tackle it affords good sport, 
being a strong and determined fighter. It is a 
great favorite with all anglers who are acquainted 
with its merits. 

When of the usual weight of from two to four 



Miscellaneous Fishes 379 

pounds, black-bass tackle is very suitable and 
serviceable in rod, reel, line, hooks, or flies, though 
a rather heavy braided linen line is better adapted 
for salt water than a silk one. To be more ex- 
plicit, an eight-ounce rod, multiplying reel, line 
size F, Sproat hooks Nos. 2-0 to 3-0 on gut or 
gimp snells, will be found to be just about right 
for bait-fishing. 

For fly-fishing, a rod of eight ounces, click reel, 
braided linen line, size E, leader of three or four 
feet, single gut, and black-bass flies such as silver- 
doctor, red ibis. Abbey, soldier, oriole, coachman, 
etc., on hooks Nos. i to 2, wifl be found to answer 
in skilful hands. A heavier rod may be used 
when the fish run larger, and also flies on hooks 
a size or two larger. Very small phantom min- 
nows, spoons, or squids may be often used with 
success when the fish are running in schools in 
the spring. 

Fishing, either with fly or bait, can be practised 
with good results at flood tide from the end of 
long piers that extend to deep water, or at the 
points of inlets during the running season. The 
piers at Port Tampa and St. Petersburg, on 
Tampa Bay, also at Mullet Key and Egmont 
Key, or Pass-a-Grille, in the same vicinity, are 



380 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

famed fishing resorts in March and April. I pre- 
fer to fish from a boat moored to the pier, rather 
than from the pier itself, as the fish are not so 
likely to see one, and they are more conveniently 
landed. 

During the winter the best fishing will be found 
in the bays and bayous, or in the streams, in the 
vicinity of sand-shoals or mud-flats, at almost any 
stage of the tide, which usually rises but a foot or 
two in the bays of the west coast. At the inlets 
and passes, at the first of the flood and last of the 
ebb tide, the fishing is also good during the winter 
months. 

The spotted weakfish takes its prey at the sur- 
face with a snap of its jaws that is quite audible, 
especially at night when one's yacht is at anchor. 
It takes the angler's fly or bait in the same way. 
It will remind him forcibly of the bite of a large 
brook-trout, and its manner of resistance when 
hooked is very much the same as with that fish — 
one reason for the name sea-trout. 

The fishing is especially good in Tampa and 
Sarasota bays, and the upper portion of Charlotte 
Harbor, on the west coast ; and on the east coast 
at the mouths of streams entering Halifax River, 
Mosquito Lagoon, or Indian River. 



Miscellaneous Fishes 381 

THE DEEP-SEA WEAKFISH 

(^Cynoscion ihalassinus) 

This species was first described by Dr. Hol- 
brook, in 1859, from the coast of South Carolina. 
He named it thalassimis, or "pertaining to the 
sea," from its supposed habit of living in deep 
water. It is either a rare fish or it has been 
confounded with the common weakfish. It has 
been recorded from several places on the South 
Atlantic and Gulf coasts, in Virginia, South 
Carolina, Florida, and Mississippi. It is supposed 
to inhabit the deep water of the sea and Gulf, 
though this is by no means certain. 

Its form is very similar to the spotted weakfish, 
with a more pointed snout and somewhat larger 
eye ; otherwise it is much the same. Its color is 
brownish above, lighter below ; the middle of the 
sides is marked with many dark dots ; there is a 
dark blotch on the upper part of the cheek ; the 
first dorsal fin is black, the second dorsal and 
anal fins are dusky, and the other fins pale. The 
same remarks as to fishing for the spotted weak- 
fish will apply as well to this species, if the 
opportunity should occur to the angler. It is a 
doubtful-species at best, and may eventually prove 
to be an aberrant form of the spotted weakfish. 



382 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

THE BERMUDA CHUB 

(^Kyphosiis sectatrix) 

Kyphosus sectatrix. The Bermuda Chub. Body ovate, somewhat 
compressed; head 3I; depth 2| ; scales 10-55-16; D. XI, 12; 
A. Ill, 11; head short, with blunt snout; mouth small, maxil- 
lary reaching front of eye ; each jaw with a series of narrow 
incisors, implanted with compressed conspicuous roots poste- 
riorly ; behind these a narrow band of villiform teeth ; fine teeth 
on vomer, palatines, and tongue ; teeth 35 to 40 on each side ; 
preopercle weakly serrate ; top and sides of head finely scaled ; 
interorbital region gibbous, below which point snout is truncate ; 
soft dorsal and anal very low ; second anal spine highest ; caudal 
well forked, the lower lobe longest ; gill-rakers long ; dorsal 
spines depressible in a groove of scales ; small ctenoid scales 
entirely covering the soft portions of the vertical fins, and ex- 
tending up on the paired fins. 

The chub belongs to the family of rudder- 
fishes, Kyphosida:. It was noticed as sectatrix 
by Catesby in his " History of the Carolinas," in 
1738, and was so named by Linnaeus in 1758. 
Sectatrix is the feminine of sectator, meaning 
"one who follows," in allusion to its habit of 
following vessels. Its range is along the South 
Atlantic coast to the West Indies, sometimes 
straying as far north as Cape Cod in the summer. 
It is common on the west coast of Florida. 

It has an oblong, elliptical body, its depth 
being more than a third of its length. The head 
is short, with a blunt snout and small mouth, 
and a curved profile. There are well-developed 



Miscellaneous Fishes 383 

incisor teeth in each jaw, with pecuHar horizontal 
bases. Its color is bluish-gray, with steely lustre ; 
the sides have numerous narrow, indistinct, yel- 
lowish or brassy stripes, alternating with bluish 
ones; there is a pale stripe below the eye, and 
a yellowish one above and below it ; the fins are 
dull grayish. 

The chub feeds on barnacles and other small 
mollusks, and is found wherever they abound, 
sometimes in rather deep water. Its usual size 
is six to ten inches, weighing from one to three 
or four pounds, but it occasionally grows to fifteen 
or eighteen inches in length in favorable loca- 
tions. Its spawning habits have not been 
studied. It is an excellent pan-fish. Light 
tackle is needed for the chub and pin-fish, both 
being usually found together. The hook should 
be small but strong, with gimp snell ; Sproat 
hooks, No. I or 2, are very suitable. The best 
bait is fiddler-crab or hermit-crab. It is quite 
a game little fish. 

I was once staying for a few days' fishing at 
the Quarantine Station on Mullet Key, in Tampa 
Bay. The station is built on piles in water 
twenty feet deep. There was a trap-door in the 
floor of one of the rooms, through which many 



384 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

kinds of fish could be seen swimming about in the 
very clear water. These fishes could be readily 
taken with the hook or the spear, as they were 
unable to see any one in the dark room above. 
I was much interested watching the chub and 
sheepshead pinching off the barnacles from the 
piles with their chisel-like teeth. A dozen could 
be easily taken in as many minutes with fiddler 
bait, and the table was kept well supplied with 
chub, which was the favorite food-fish during my 
sojourn. 

THE ANGEL-FISH 

{ChcEtodipterus fabef) 

ChcBtodipterus faber. The Angel-fish. Body much elevated and 
compressed, its outline nearly orbicular, the anterior profile 
nearly vertical ; head 3; depth i to i^; scales 60; D. VIII-I, 
20; A. Ill, 18; jaws about equal; no teeth on vomer or pala- 
tines ; teeth on jaws slender, somewhat movable ; preopercle 
finely serrate; two dorsal fins, somewhat connected; vertical 
fins falcate in the adult ; first soft ray of dorsal filamentous ; 
ventral fin with a large accessory scale. 

There are a number of angel-fishes in Florida, 
remarkable for their bizarre and beautiful col- 
oration, but of no importance to the angler as 
they do not often take the baited hook, their 
very small mouths and weak teeth being only 
adapted for feeding on the minute organisms 
about the coral reefs. The common angel-fish, 




THE ANGEL-FISH 

Chaetodipterus faber 




THE TURBOT 
Balistes carolinensis 



Miscellaneous Fishes 385 

or spade-fish, is more sombre in hue than the 
others, and belongs to a different family, Ephip- 
pidcs ; it has a somewhat larger mouth, and is 
more widely distributed. It was described by 
Broussonet, in 1782, from Jamaica, who named 
it faber, or "blacksmith," though why is difficult 
to imagine, except that it is dark in its general 
hue, with smutty cross bars. It is very abundant 
from the South Atlantic coast to South America, 
and is not uncommon, occasionally, as far north 
as Cape Cod. It is very common on the east 
and west coasts of Florida. 

It has a short, very deep body, nearly round in 
outline, and very much compressed ; it is almost 
as deep as long. Its head is short and deep, 
with its profile nearly vertical. The mouth is 
small, with slender, movable teeth, on jaws only ; 
the soft dorsal and anal fins are quite large and 
winglike, extending far backward nearly to the 
tail; they are quite scaly, which adds much to 
their thickness and stiffness; the caudal fin is 
broad and nearly square. 

The general color is usually gray or slate 
color, often bluish with iridescent tints ; there are 
several dusky, broad vertical bars across the body, 
becoming obsolete or faint with age. 



386 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

It feeds on small marine organisms, and grows 
to a length of two feet, occasionally, though its 
usual size is ten or twelve inches, and average 
weight from one to three or four pounds. It is 
an excellent food-fish, though its good qualities in 
this respect are not generally known. It spawns 
in the spring. 

It is usually taken in seines in the bays of the 
Gulf coast, and salted with mullet and sheepshead 
by the fishermen. It can be caught by the angler 
with a ver)' small hook, No. 5 or 6, and cut clam 
or conch bait. It is a fair game-fish on light 
tackle, which may be the same as advised for the 
Bermuda chub, 

THE PIN-FISH 

(JLagodon rhomboides) 

Lagodon rhomboides. The Pin-fish. Body elongate, elliptical ; head 
3^; depth 2^; eye 4; scales 10-65-17; D. XII, 11 ; A. Ill, 11 ; 
mouth moderate, maxillary not reaching front of orbit ; head 
flattened ; snout pointed ; protile not very steep ; 4 incisors in 
each jaw, all deeply notched ; two series of molars in each jaw ; 
dorsal fin single, with high spines ; caudal fin deeply forked. 

The pin-fish, also called sailor's choice and 
bream in some localities, belongs to the family 
Sparidce, and is closely related to the sheepshead 
of that family, having incisor and molar teeth. It 
differs from it in the conformation of the skull. 



Miscellaneous Fishes 387 

The pin-fish was first described by Linnsus, in 
1 766, from specimens sent to him by Dr. Garden 
from South Carolina. He named it rkomdoides, 
meaning " rhomboid," from the shape of its body. 
It is abundant on the South Atlantic and Gulf 
coasts, extending south to Cuba, and occasionally 
north to Cape Cod. It is found in all bays on 
the east and west coasts of Florida. 

Its body is symmetrical, being rather evenly 
curved on both dorsal and ventral lines, and 
rather deep ; its head is large, with a depression 
in front of the eye. Its color is olivaceous, dark- 
est on the back, with bluish silvery sides, and 
narrow horizontal stripes of blue and gold, alter- 
nating, and six faint, broad vertical bars ; it has a 
dark spot on the shoulder at the top of the gill- 
cover ; the dorsal fin is bluish with gilt edge ; the 
anal fin is bluish with yellow band; the caudal 
fin is yellow, faintly barred ; the ventral fins are 
yellowish ; the pectoral fins are plain. 

It is a pretty fish, and is usually abundant 
wherever found. It feeds on small mollusks and 
barnacles, resorting to old wharves and about the 
mangroves where such food abounds. It grows 
to a length of six or eight inches, and though 
small, it is a good pan-fish. It spawns in the 



388 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

spring. The same light tackle used for the pig- 
fish and pork-fish can be utilized for the pin-fish, 
with small, strong hooks, as Sproat bend. No. 4 
or 5, on gut snells. The ends of piers and wharves, 
in comparatively shallow water, are favorable 
localities for fishing. 

THE SQUIRREL-FISH 

(^Holocentrus ascensions') 

Holocentnis ascensionis. The Squirrel-fish. Body oblong, moder- 
ately compressed, the back a little elevated ; head 3f ; depth i\ ; 
eye 3; scales 5-50-7; D. XI, 15; A. IV, 10; head compressed, 
narrowed forward ; opercle with a strong spine above, below 
with the edge sharply seVrated ; preopercle with a strong spine 
at its angle ; mouth small, little oblique, with the lower jaw pro- 
jecting somewhat ; eye excessively large ; upper lobe of caudal 
fin the longest ; soft dorsal fin pointed, as high as the body ; 
third anal spine very strong, as long as longest anal ray. 

The squirrel-fish belongs to the family Holo- 
centrid(g, the species comprising that family hav- 
ing very rough or spinous scales, a single dorsal 
fin, deeply divided, with the spines very tall ; the 
caudal fin deeply forked ; the • anal fin with four 
spines ; and a very large eye. 

The squirrel-fish belongs to the West Indian 
fauna, ranging from the Florida Keys to South 
America. It was first described by Osbeck, in 
1 771, from Ascension Island, who named it for 



Miscellaneous Fishes 389 

that locality. It is not uncommon along the 
reefs, where I have taken it a number of times. 
Its body is oblong, moderately compressed, its 
depth about a third of its length, with the back 
slightly elevated, and the ventral outline nearly 
straight. Its mouth is small, the eye enormously 
large, and the caudal fin deeply forked. Its 
color is bright crimson, with a darker shade on 
the back, and a somewhat lighter tint below, with 
silver streaks along the sides. The fins are also 
red, some bordered with olive ; the head is red 
above, with an oblique white bar running back 
and down from the eye. It feeds about the reefs 
on small fishes and marine invertebrates, and 
grows to two feet in length, occasionally, but is 
usually found smaller. It is a good food-fish and 
sells at sight in the market. It is a remarkably 
handsome and attractive fish in appearance. 

In one of Stockton's stories, John Gayther, the 
gardener, tells of the curious and beautiful things 
to be seen on a coral reef in the tropics, with the 
aid of a long box with a glass in the end. His 
description applies just as well to the vicinity of 
the Dry Tortugas, where I have often viewed the 
wonders of the sea-floor through a sponge-glass, 
a wooden pail with a glass bottom : — 



390 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

" Where the water is so clear that with a Httle 
help you can see everything just as if it were out 
in the open air, — bushes and vines and hedges ; 
all sorts of waving plants, all made of seaweed 
and coral, growing in the white sand ; and instead 
of birds flying about among their branches, there 
were little fishes of every color: canary-colored 
fishes, fishes like robin-redbreasts, and others 
which you might have thought were blue jays if 
they had been up in the air instead of down in 
the water." 

THE TURBOT 

(^Balistes carolittcftsis) 

Balistt's carolincnsis. The Turbot. The fishes comprising the 
family Balistidcr are characterized by an ovate body, much com- 
pressed ; small and low mouth, with separate incisor teeth ; eye 
very high ; gill opening a small slit ; the absence of ventral 
fins ; the dorsal fins widely separated, the first with but i to 3 
spines. The turbot has a very deep compressed body, covered 
with thick, rough plates or scales; head 3^; depth i|; eye 
small; scales about 60; about 35 scales in an oblique series 
from vent upward and forward ; D. III. 27 ; A. 25 ; third dorsal 
spine stouter than the second and remote from it ; plates on 
head similar to those on body ; caudal lobes produced ; soft 
dorsal high ; ventral flaps large, supported by several pungent 
spines ; lateral line very slender, undulating, and very crooked, 
showing only when scales are dry ; a groove before the eye ; 
larger plates behind the gill opening. 

The turbot, or leather-fish, belongs to the 
family Balistidce, or trigger-fishes. It was first 



Miscellaneous Fishes 391 

described by Gmelin, in 1788, from Carolina, 
from one of Dr. Garden's specimens, Gmelin 
being a coadjutor of Linnaeus, to whom the 
specimen was sent. The locality from which 
the type specimen was sent accounts for its 
name. 

The turbot, as it is called by the Key West 
fishermen, is an inhabitant of tropical waters, and 
is abundant on the South Atlantic coast and 
along the Florida Keys; it is known also from 
the Mediterranean Sea. Like all of the trigger- 
fishes it has a curious form and appearance. 
It is as deep as long, and slants both ways 
from the dorsal fin above and from the ven- 
tral flap below, presenting somewhat of a dia- 
mond shape. The head is triangular, and the 
fins are thick and leathery. The first dorsal 
spine is locked when erect by the second, or 
"trigger." The soft dorsal and anal fins are 
opposite each other, and are of similar size and 
shape. The color is olive-gray, or slate color, 
with some purplish spots on the back ; two ob- 
scure cross bars are under the second dorsal fin ; 
a ring of blue spots alternating with greenish 
streaks are about the eye ; there are violet marks 
on the sides of the snout; the first dorsal is 



392 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

spotted and clouded with bluish ; the second 
dorsal has pale yellowish spots, with rows of blue 
ones, separated by greenish reticulations; the 
anal fin is colored like the second dorsal; the 
pectoral fins are bluish with olive spots. 

The leather-fish, or turbot, resorts to rocky 
shoals and coral reefs, feeding on the small 
marine organisms that are abundant in such 
localities. Nothing is known of its breeding 
habits. It grows to a foot in length and is con- 
sidered a good food-fish by the people of Key 
West. The thick skin and rough scales are 
pared off together with a sharp knife by the 
fishermen when delivered to a customer. It is 
caught, with the grunts, porgies, etc., in the 
channels among the keys and reefs with the 
baited hook, and also in wire traps. Very small 
hooks must be used for the turbot, as it has a 
very small mouth. Cut crawfish, conch, or bar- 
nacles are good baits. 



Conclusion 393 



Conclusion 

In closing this account it occurs to me to say 
that the angler who has a genuine love for the 
finny tribe, and who has never visited the sunny 
waters of Florida, has in store an experience of 
joy and delight in the wonderful variety of its 
fishes. Some idea may be formed of their num- 
ber from the fact that I have collected nearly 
three hundred species in the fresh and salt water 
of that sub-tropical wonderland. And the fishing 
lasts the year round, and is always good, except 
when an unusually cold " norther " is blowing. 
The warm-water species, like the tarpon, lady- 
fish, and ten-pounder, are more plentiful, and ex- 
tend their range farther northward in the summer. 
At that season all of the inlets and passes of both 
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts abound with them ; 
but the winter visitor will find them in Biscayne 
Bay, Barnes Sound, Cards Sound, and southwest 
along the keys to the Dry Tortugas. The brack- 
ish water species will be found all winter in the 
bays and estuaries of either coast. 



394 Bass, Pike, and Percb 

A just idea of the fishing resources of Florida 
twenty years ago — and it is much the same to- 
day — may, perhaps, be gathered from the follow- 
ing excerpts from my " Camping and Cruising in 
Florida " : — 

" At flood-tide the channels under the man- 
groves teem with redfish, groupers, and snap- 
pers, w'hile near the beds of coon oysters are 
schools of sheepshead and drum. In fact, all 
of the passes and inlets of the Gulf coast are 
fairly alive with fishes, from the mullet to sharks 
and sawfish. While lying in his bunk, one can 
hear all night long the voices of the deep, under 
and around him. 

" The hollow, muffled boom of the drumfish 
seems to be just under one's pillow; schools of 
sparoid fishes feeding on shell-fish at the bottom, 
sounds like the snapping of dry twigs on a hot 
fire ; while a hundred tiny hammers in the hands 
of ocean sprites are tapping on the keel. Then 
is heard the powerful rush of the tarpon, the 
blowing of porpoises, and the snapping jaws of 
the sea-trout among the swarms of mullet, which, 
leaping from the surface by thousands, awake the 
watery echoes like showers of silvery fishes fall- 
ing in fitful gusts and squalls. 



Conclusion 395 

*' Sanibel Island, at the entrance of Caloosa 
Bay and opposite Punta Rassa, is renowned for 
its fine fishing. The angler can here fairly revel 
in piscatorial abandon and cover himself with 
piscine glory and fish scales. If ichthyc variety 
is the spice of the angler's life, Sanibel and its 
sister keys are the Spice Islands. Sharks, rays, 
and devil-fish, tarpon and jewfish, redfish, snap- 
pers and groupers, Spanish mackerel and king- 
fish, sea-trout, bonito and cavallies, ladyfish and 
sergeant-fish, sheepshead and drum, a host of 
smaller fry — spots, grunts, and porgies, and the 
ever-present and ubiquitous catfish — can here be 
jerked, and yanked and snaked, and pulled and 
hauled, until the unfortunate angler will lament 
that he was ever born — under the last but not 
least of the zodiacal signs." 

The foregoing excerpts relate to fishing on the 
Gulf coast, but on the east coast, while the vari- 
ety of fishes is not so great, the angler will find 
enough and to spare, and many that are worthy 
of his best efforts. Large-mouth black-bass are 
plentiful in Tomoka River, near Ormond on the 
Halifax, and in Elbow Creek, Turkey Creek, 
Sebastian River, Taylor's Creek, and the St. Lucie 



396 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

River, all tributaries of Indian River. At the 
mouths of these streams, brackish-water fishes 
will be found in more or less abundance, com- 
prising most of the species inhabiting the Gulf 
coast. Some of the best localities are at Day- 
tona, New Smyrna, Rock Ledge, Indian River 
Inlet, Gilbert's Bar, and Jupiter Inlet. Still far- 
ther south the fishing is much better, notably at 
Lake Worth, and on Hillsboro' and New rivers. 
Mangrove snappers, bluefish, amber-jacks, and 
barracudas are especially abundant south of 
Indian River Inlet, more so than on the Gulf 
coast. In all of the fresh-water lakes in the 
interior of the state the angler will be amply 
rewarded, as large-mouth black-bass, calico bass, 
warmouth perch, and bream are in most of them. 
As a matter of fact, one can hardly go amiss for 
some kind of fishing in Florida, wherever there is 
water, salt or fresh, provided one proceeds with 
patience and intelligence, and with a due regard 
for the amenities of the gentle art. 

Perhaps the queer descriptions and homely 
comparisons of some of the fishes as given by 
my negro boatman from the Bahamas, whom 
I have before mentioned, may not be uninterest- 
ing. I always employed him when possible, for 



Conclusion 397 

he was a good fisherman and sailor, and had 
a never-ending fund of anecdotes; and being a 
close observer, he had a good general idea of the 
fishes of the locality. I always encouraged him 
in his quaint and original remarks about fishes, 
and in this way obtained considerable knowledge 
of their habits from this faithful Achates. Some 
of his observations, as I remember them, and 
which seem very odd in his Bahamian lingo, were 
as follows : — 

" Veil, sir, it's curious 'ow some fish is made ; 
but w'atever their model in length, beam, and draft, 
there is some good reason vy they is built so." 

" Yes," I would answer, " they are all endowed 
by Nature with the shape best fitted for their 
mode of life and environment." 

" Veil, 'wironment or not, as you say, and 
I'm not gainsayin' it, there's as much diff'rence 
in their model as atween a man-o'-war 'awk 
and an 'ummin'-bird. Now, sir, just look at the 
stingaree and the wipporee ; they is flat as pan- 
cakes, and goes a-skimmin' along like a turkey 
buzzard, or a-wabblin' like a jolly-boat in the 
breakers, and then they flops down on a sand- 
bank like a flounder, when feedin', 'cause their 
mouth is hunderneath like a shark. And they 



398 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

crawls along on their belly a-gobblin' hup the 
periwinkles and fiddlers, and crounches 'em 
vith a set of teeth like a pair o' mill-stones." 

"Yes," I assented, "the rays are curious 
creatures, and have very remarkable teeth." 

" Now, on the bother 'and, sir, look at the 
moonfish. They is all length and draft and 
no beam, like the 'ind weel of a vaggon ; it 
couldn't cast a shadder if it was facin' the sun. 
And the angel-fish 'aven't much more beam to 
swear by. Now, sir, hall these slimjims 'ave 
small mouths and pinchers for teeth, and goes 
a-nosin' 'round the rocks, and a-vorkin' of thelr- 
selves thro' the narrow crannies, and a-pinchin' 
hoff the coral-bugs and sea-lice. Now, sir, a 
flounder is wicey wersy from a moonfish, it 
'asn't hany draft, and don't carry any sail to 
speak of, and so it 'ides in the sand a-waitin' 
for sumpthin' to turn hup in the vay o' grub." 

" That's true," I would say, " they lead a very 
lazy, humdrum life, and don't hustle much for 
a living." 

" But for a real racin' yacht," he would con- 
tinue, "give me the kingfish, or Spanish mackerel, 
or boneeto; they ketches their food on the run 
and jump; and speakin' o' jumpin', sir, look at 



Conclusion 399 

the tarpon, and bone-fish, and skipjack; they is 
the kankeroos o' the sea." 

" Many fishes," I would observe, " have their 
analogues ; that is, they seem to bear some 
fancied resemblance, either in habits or appear- 
ance, to some object or animal of the land." 

" Veil, sir, it's as true as gospel ; a man is like 
a fish out o' water ; 'e puffs like a poipus and 
drinks like a fish. And the butterflies are the 
yellow grunts and pork-fish and little snappers 
and cockeyed pilots ; and the red snappers and 
squirrel-fish are the fiUimingoes and pink cur- 
lews ; and the nigger-fish and conies is the le'p- 
ards ; and the blowfish and puffers is the 'edge'ogs 
and porkupines. And then there's the poll-par- 
rots, red, blue, yellow, and green, from the puddin'- 
wife to slippery-dick; if they'd vings like the 
flyin'-fish, we'd put 'em in cages." 

" True, enough," I would assent ; " and up north 
we have fish that go into hiding and sleep all win- 
ter, like the bears ; and some that make nests for 
their eggs, and guard them, and take care of their 
young ones like a hen broods her chicks. And 
in some countries there are fish that crawl out 
on the land, and climb trees like squirrels." 

He listened to this apparently very doubtfully. 



400 Bass, Pike, and Perch 

and frowned fiercely, but kept silent until he filled 
and lighted his pipe ; then, after scanning the 
horizon, he said meekly : — 

" I think we'll be goin' 'ome, sir; it looks werry 
squally in the sou' east." 



INDEX 



Albula vulpes, ladyfish, 355, 361. 
Ambloplites rupestris, rock-bass, 2, 

52. 
Anchovy, banded, 320. 

big, 320. 

silver, 320. 
Angel-fish, 384. 

description, 385. 

tackle and fishing, 386. 
Angling, fresh-water, 341. 

salt-water, 341. 
Anisotremus virginicus, pork-fish, 

323. 334- 
Aplodinotus grunniens, fresh-water 

drum, 232. 
Archoplites inierrupius, Sacramento 

perch, 2, 57. 
Archosargus prol>atocephalus,%h&tT^s- 

head, 251, 252. 
Arctic grayling, 1 76. 
coloration, 177, 178. 
description, 177, 178. 
Argyrosonius artedi sisco, cisco, 204, 

207. 
Artificial flies, 20, 21. 

rules for, 21. 
Artificial key to pikespecies, 121, 122. 

Bachelor, 80. 

Balistes carolinensis, turbot, 390, 

Banded pickerel, 121. 

description, 154. 

tackle and fishing, 155. 
Bank lick bass, 73. 
Barb, 221. 



Bar-fish, 80. 

Bass, bank lick, 73. 

big-fin, 74. 

black, large-mouth, 30. 

black, small-mouth, 3. 

brassy, 90. 

calico, 73. 

family, 85. 

fresh-water striped, 86. 

grass, 73. 

Lake Erie, 74. 

rock, 52, 115. 

sea, 115. 

sea, Gulf, 119. 

sea, southern, 118. 

silver, 73. 

strawberry, 73. 

striped, 96. 

white, 86. 

white lake, 86. 

yellow, 90. 
Bastard margaret, 330. 
Bastard weakfish, 221. 

description, 221. 

habits and habitat, 222. 
Beach-fleas, 321. 
Bermuda chub, 382. 

description 382. 

tackle and fishing, 383, 384. 
Besugo, 231. 
Big-fin bass, 74. 
Bitter-head, 74. 
Black-bass, small-mouth, 3. 

description, 1-6. 

gameness, 10-15. 



2D 



401 



402 



Index 



Black-bass \^coniintte(l'\ — 

habits and habitat, 7-9. 

tackle and fishing, 15-29. 
Black-bass, large-mouth, 30. 

description, 31. 

gameness, 34, 35. 

habits and habitat, 32-43. 

spawning and nesting, 33-43. 

tackle and fishing, 36-52. 
Blackfish, 115. 
Black grunt, 323. 

description, 323. 

tackle and fishing, 326. 
Black harry, 115. 
Black sea-bass, 115. 
Black sunfish, 58. 
Black will, 115. 
Blue bream, 62. 
Bluefish, 115. 
Blue gill, 62. 
Blue perch, 264. 
Blue sunfish, 62. 

description, 62. 

tackle and fishing, 64, 
Bodianus fulvus, nigger-fish, 287, 

300. 
Bone-fish, 355, 361. 
Bonito, 2S2. 

description, 282. 

tackle and fishing, 283. 
Bony-fish, 361. 
Boy and tobacco-box, 67. 
Boyhood days, 72. 
Bream, blue, 62. 

copper-nosed, 62. 

red-breast, 68. 
Bridge perch, 74. 
Bubbler, 232. 
Burgall, 264. 

Calamus arctifrons, grass porgy, 

348, 353- 
Calamtts bajonado, jolt-head porgy, 

347. 348- 



Calamus calamus, saucer-eye porgy, 

348, 350- 
Calam us proi-idens, little-head porgy, 

348, 352- 
Calico-bass, 73. 

description, 74. 

habits and habitat, 75. 

tackle and fishing, 75-78. 
Campbellite, 80. 

Cancer, common crab genus, 320. 
Cape May goody, 231. 
CarattgidiE, cavalli family, 306. 
Caraiigus crysos, runner, 306, 307. 
Carangus latus, horse-eye jack, 306, 

310. 
Carp, German, 236. 

leather, 237. 

mirror, 237. 

scale, 237. 
Catfish, blue, 247. 

channel, 244. 

chuckle-head, 247. 

eel, 247. 

family, 244. 

forked-tail, 247. 

white, 245. 

willow, 247. 
Cavalli family, 306. 
Centrarchida, sunfish family, I. 
Centropomus undecimalis, snook, 

366. 
Ceniroprisies ocyurus. Gulf sea-bass, 

119. 
Centropristes philadelphicus, south- 
ern sea-bass, 1 1 8. 
Centropristes striatals, sea-bass, 96, 

"5- 

Cero, 278. 

description, 278. 

habits and habitat, 278, 279. 

tackle and fishing, 279-281. 
Chcenobryttus gulosus, warmouth, 2, 

ss. 

ChcEtodipterus faber, angel-fish, 384. 



Index 



403 



Channel catfish, 244. 

description, 245. 

tackle and fishing, 245-247. 
Channel fishes, 316. 

tackle and bait, 317, 318. 
Chincapin perch, 74. 
Chogset, 264. 
Chopa blanca, 231. 
Chub, 231. 
Cisco, 207. 

description, 208. 

tackle and fishing, 209, 210. 
ClupeidcE, herring family, 319. 
Cobia, 373. 

description, 374. 

tackle and fishing, 375, 376. 
Cobi6, 375. 
Commercial fishing, Key West, 316, 

317- 
Common sunfish, 69. 

description, 70. 

tackle and fishing, 71-73. 
Conchs, 318. 
Conclusion, 393. 
Coney, 286, 299. 

description, 299. 

tackle and fishing, 300. 
Copper-nosed bream, 62. 
Coral fishes, 328. 

polyps, 328. 

reefs, 327, 389, 390. 
Coralline formation, Florida reefs, 

316. 
Coregonus •williamsoni. Rocky 
Mountain whitefish, 203, 
204. 
Coregonus williamsoni cis-montanus, 

204, 205. 
Crab, common, 320. 

fiddler, 320. 

hermit, 320. 

lady, 320. 

mud, 320. 

spider, 320. 



Crab \continued'\ — 

stone, 320, 
Crappie, 73, 79-80. 
description, 80, 81. 
tackle and fishing, 82, 83. 
Croaker, 226, 232. 

description, 226, 227. 
tackle and fishing, 228. 
Crocus, 227. 
Croppie, 73, 80. 
Cunner, 263, 264. 
description, 264. 
tackle and fishing, 265, 266. 
Cynoscion nebulosus, spotted weak- 
fish, 376. 
Cynoscion notliiis, bastard weakfish, 

221. 
Cynoscion regalis, weakfish, 214, 215. 
Cynoscion ihalassinus, deep-sea 

weakfish, 381. 
Cypress trees, giant, 61, 62. 
Cyprinida, minnow family, 236. 
Cyprinus carpio, German carp, 236. 

Darky and catfish, 248. 
Deep-sea weakfish, 381. 

description, 381. 

tackle and fishing, 381. 
Diplectrum formosum, sand-fish, 

287, 303. 
Dog snapper, 344. 

description, 344. 

tackle and fishing, 345. 
Drum family, 213, 232. 

fresh-water, 232. 

Eastern pickerel, 149. 
description, 149, 150. 
tackle and fishing, 151, 152. 
Elops saurus, ten-pounder, 361. 
Engraulidida, anchovy family, 319, 

320. 
Epinephelus adscensionis, rock hind, 
286, 295. 



404 



Index 



Epinephelus guitaius, red hind, 286 

297. 
Esocida, pike family, 120. 
Esox americanus, banded pickerel, 

121, 154. 
Esox lucius, pike, 121, 137. 
Esox nobilior, mascalonge, 120, 121, 

122. 
Esox reticulatus, eastern pickerel, 

121, 149. 
Esox vermiculatus, western pickerel, 

121, 153. 
Eupagurus, hermit crab genus, 

320. 
Eupomotis gibbosus, common sunfish, 

3.69. 

Fascination of the float, 71. 
Fishes not sensitive to pain, 114. 
Fishing through ice, 145, 146. 

with the cork, 72. 
Flasher, 371. 
Flatfish, 266. 
Float, fascination of, 71. 
Florida Keys, 341. 
Flounder, 263, 266. 

description, 266, 267. 

tackle and fishing, 268. 
Fresh-water drumfish, 232. 

description, 232, 233. 

tackle and fishing, 234, 235. 
Frozen fish reviving, 78, 79, 147. 

Gag, 285, 287. 

description, 288. 

tackle and fishing, 289-290. 
Gammu7-us, shrimp genus, 321. 
Gaspergou, 232. 
Gelasimus, fiddler crab genus, 

320. 
Generals Sheridan and Stager, 77. 
German carp, 236. 

description, 236-238. 

tackle and fishing, 238-243. 



Giant cypress trees, 61, 62. 
Goggle-eye, 53. 

perch, 74, 80. 
Goody, 228. 

Cape May, 231. 
Grass-bass, 73. 
Grass porgy, 353. 

description, 353, 

tackle and fishing, 354. 
Grayling, Arctic, 176. 

description, 176, 177, 

fishing, 178. 
Grayling, English, 174. 

fishing, 191, 197-201. 
Grayling, Michigan, 178. 

fishing, 179. 

scarcity of, 1 79-1 81. 
Grayling, Montana, 181. 

description, 184, 185. 

gameness, 185, 186. 

propagation of, 194, 195. 

tackle and fishing, 188-193. 
Gribble, 321. 
Grouper family, 285. 

yellow-finned, 286, 294. 
Grunt, black, 323. 

boar, 327. 

common, 321, 323. 

family, 321. 

French, 331. 

gray, Z^i. 

margate, 329. 

sow, 324. 

white, 329, 

yellow, 322, 326. 
Gulf sea-bass, 119. 

description, 119. 

habits and habitat, 1 1 9. 
Gymnosarda pelainis, oceanic bo- 
nito, 2S3. 

HcEtnulidtE, grunt family, 321. 
HceruHlon album, margate-fish, 322, 
328. 



Index 



405 



Hamulon Jlavolineatum, French 

grunt, 331. 
Hcemulon tnacrostomum, gray grunt, 

331- 
Hmmulon parra, sailor's choice, 

322, 330- 
ffamulon plumieri,h\3.ck grunt, 321, 

323- 
HcEtnulon sciurus, yellow grunt, 322, 

326. 
Hannahills, 115. 
Hard-tail, 309. 
Henshall rod, 25. 
Hind, brown, 296. 

John Paw, 296. 

red, 286, 297. 

rock, 286, 295. 

spotted, 296. 
Hippa, sand-bug genus, 321. 
Hog-fish, 331, 333. 
Holocentrus ascensionis, squirrej-fish, 

388. 
Horse-eye Jack, 306, 310. 

description, 310. 

tackle and fishing, 310. 
Hybrids, 309. 

Ichthyophagous dog, 284. 
Ictalurus anguilla, eel-cat, 247. 
Ictalurus furcatus, chuckle-head cat, 

247. 
Ictalurus punctatus, channel-cat, 244. 

Jack, horse-eye, 310. 
Jack salmon, 157. 
Jolt-head porgy, 348. 

description, 348, 349. 

tackle and fishing, 350. 
Jurel, 309, 

Key to pike species, 121, 122. 
Kingfish, 221. 

description, 222-224. 

tackle and fishing, 224, 225. 



Kingfish-mackerel, 279, 280. 
Knot, for leader, 19. 

jam, for eyed hook, 19. 
Kyphosus sectatrix, Bermuda chub, 
382. 

Lady anglers, 148, 149. 
Lady-fish, 355. 
Lafayette, 228. 

description, 229. 

tackle and fishing, 230, 231. 
Lagodon rhomboides, pin-fish, 330, 

_ 386. 
Lake Erie bass, 74. 
Lake-herring, 207. 
Lake-sheepshead, 232. 
Lamplighter, 74. 
Lane snapper, 339. 

description, 340. 

habits and habitat, 341. 
Large-mouth black-bass, 30. 
Leather-fish, 390. 
Leiostomus xanthurus, Lafayette, 

214, 228. 
Lepomis auritus, red-breast sunfish, 

67. 
Lepomis megalotis, long-eared sun- 
fish, 65. 
Lepomis pa Hi dus, blue sunfish, 62. 
Lewis and Clark, 181-183. 
Libinia, spider crab genus, 320. 
Limnoria, gribble genus, 321. 
Little Giant rod, loi, 102. 
Little-head porgy, 352. 

description, 352. 

tackle and fishing, 353. 
Lobotes pacijicus, berrugate, 371. 
Lobotes surinamensis, triple-tail, 370. 
Long-eared sunfish, 65. 

description, 65. 

tackle and fishing, 66. 
Lucky stones, 233. 
LutianidcE, snapper family, 336. 
Lutianus analis, mutton-fish, 347. 



4o6 



Index 



Lutianus apodus, schoolmaster, 338, 

345- 
Lutianus aya, red snapper, 337, 342. 
Lutianus griseus, mangrove snapper, 

347- 
Lutianus jocu, dog snapper, 337, 

344. 
LMtianus synagris, lane snapper, 

337. 339- 

Mackerel family, 272. 

kingfish, 279. 

Spanish, 273. 
Margate fish, 328. 

description, 328, 329. 

tackle and fishing, 330. 
Mascalonge, 122. 

coloration, 1 27-129, 

description, 126, 127. 

distribution, 126. 

nomenclature, 122-126, 

tackle and fishing, 132-135, 
Maskinonge, 124, 
Menippe, stone crab genus, 320. 
Menticirrhus americanus, whiting, 

225, 
Menticirrhus littoralis, silver whit- 
ing, 225, 
Menticirrhus saxatilis, kingfish, 221. 
Michigan grayling, 178. 
Micropogon undulatus, croaker, 214, 

226. 
Micropterus dolomieu, small-mouth 

black-bass, i, 3. 
Micropterus salmoides, large-mouth 

black -bass, 2, 30, 
Minnow family, 236, 
Minnow gangs, 143. 
Montana grayling, 181, 
Morone americana, white-perch, 95, 

no, 
Morone interrupta, yellow-bass, 90, 
Mud-dab, 266. 
Mugil cephalus, common mullet, 319. 



Mugil curetna, white mullet, 319, 
Mugil trichodon, fan-tail mullet, 319, 
Mugilidiv, mullet family, 319. 
Mullet, common, 319, 

fan-tail, 319. 

whirligig, 319, 

white, 319. 
Multiplying reel, invention of, 13. 
Muskellunge, 125. 
Mycteroperca falcata phenax, scamp, 

2S6, 291, 
Mycteroperca microlepis, gag, 285, 

287, 
Mycteroperca venenosa, yellow-fin 
grouper, 286, 294. 

Newlight, 80. 
Nigger-fish, 287, 300. 

description, 300, 301. 

tackle and fishing, 302, 
Not all of fishing to fish, 92-94. 

Oceanic bonito, 283, 

Ocyurus chrvsurus, yellow-tail, 336, 

33S. 
Orchestia, beach-flea genus, 321, 
Orthopristis chrysopterus, pig-fish, 

322, 330, 331. 
Osmerus mordax^ smelt, 263, 269. 
Osprey on the fly, 64, 

Palinurus, sea-crawfish genus, 318. 
Palccmonetes, prawn genus, 321, 
Panopeus, mud crab genus, 320. 
Perca flavescens, yellow-perch, 165. 
Perch, black, 371, 

blue, 264, 

bridge, 74, 

chincapin, 74. 

family, 156. 

goggle-eye, 74, 80. 

pike, 157. 

raccoon, 166. 

red-bellied, 68. 



Index 



407 



Perch [continued'^ — 

ringed, 166. 

Sacramento, 57, 

warmouth, 58. 

white, 1 10, 234. 

yellow, 165. 
PercidcB, perch family, 156. 
Permit, 312. 
Petrometopon cruentatus, coney, 286, 

299. 
Pickerel, banded, 154. 

brook, 154. 

eastern, 149. 

great northern, 137. 

Long Island, 154. 

reticulated, 149. 

western, 153. 
Pig-fish, 322, 330, 331. 

description, 331, 332. 

tackle and fishing, 333. 
Pike, 137. 

description, 137-140. 

fishing through ice, 144-146. 

tackle and fishing, 141-147, 
Pike family, 120. 

glass-eyed, 157. 

gray, 164. 

rattlesnake, 164, 

sand, 164. 

wall-eyed, 157. 

yellow, 157. 
Pike-perch, 157. 

description, 157-160. 

night fishing, 162. 

tackle and fishing, 161-163. 
Pikes, key to, 121, 122. 
Pin-fish, 386. 

description, 386, 387. 

tackle and fishing, 387. 
Piscatorial polemic, 44. 
Platyonichus, lady crab genus, 320, 
Pomoxis annularis, crappie, 3, 79. 
Pomoxis sparoides, calico-bass, 3, 
73- 



Pompano, 311. 

description, 31 1-3 14. 

best of food-fishes, 312, 314. 

tackle and fishing, 313, 314. 
Pompano, common, 307, 31 1. 

gaff top-sail, 312. 

permit, 312. 

round, 312. 
Porgy, 259. 

big-head, 347, 348. 

family, 347. 

grass, 348, 353. 

jolt-head, 348. 

little-head, 348, 352. 

saucer-eye, 348, 350. 
Pork-fish, 323, 334. 

description, 334, 335, 

tackle and fishing, 335. 
Prawn, 321. 
Pseudopleuronectes americanus, 

flounder, 263, 266. 
Pumpkin-seed, 69. 
Pyrula, mollusk genus, 318, 339. 

Querimana gyrans, whirligig mullet, 

319- 
Razor back, 74. 
Record fly-casting, 16. 
Red-bellied perch, 68. 
Red-breast bream, 68. 
Red-breast sunfish, 67. 
Red-eye, 53. 
Red hind, 286, 297. 

description, 297. 

tackle and fishing, 298. 
Red snapper, 342. 

description, 342. 

tackle and fishing, 343, 344. 
Red sunfish, 67. 
Reel, click, 17. 
Reel, multiplying, 13. 
Roach, 231. 

Roccus chrysops, white-bass, 86. 
Roccui Hneatus, striped-bass, 95, 96. 



4o8 



Index 



Rock, 96. 
Rock-bass, 52. 

description, 53. 

tackle and fishing, 54-57. 
Rocktish, 96. 
Rock hind, 286, 295. 

description, 295, 296. 

tackle and fishing, 297. 
Rocky Mountain whitefish, 204. 

description, 204. 

tackle and fishing, 205, 206. 
Rod, Henshall, 25. 

Little Giant, loi, 102. 
Rovallia, 366. 
Rules for artificial flies, 21. 
Runner, 306, 307. 

description, 307. 

tackle and fishing, 308. 

Sac-a-lait, 80. 
Sacramento perch, 57. 

description, 57. 

tackle and fishing, 58. 
Sailor's choice, 330, 331, 386, 

description, 330. 

tackle and fishing, 331, 
Salmon family, 203. 
SalmonidiB, 203. 
Sand-bug, 321. 
Sand-fish, 287, 303. 

description, 303. 

tackle and fishing, 304, 
Sarda sarda, bonito, 273, 282. 
Sardine, silver, 319. 

striped, 319. 
Sardinella humeralis, silver sardine, 

319- 
Sardinella Sardinia, striped sardine, 

319. 
Saucer-eye porgy, 350. 

description, 351. 

tackle and fishing, 352. 
Sanger, 164. 

description, 165. 



Sanger \^continued'\ — 

tackle and fishing, 165, 
Scamp, 286, 291. 

description, 292. 

tackle and fishing, 293. 
Schoolmaster, 345. 

description, 345, 346. 

tackle and fishing, 347. 
Scicenida:, drum family, 213, 232. 
Scotnberomorus cavalla, kingfish, 

279, 280. 
Scomberomorus maculatus, Spanish 

mackerel, 272, 273. 
Scombero77iorus rcgalis, cero, 272, 

278. 
ScombridcE, mackerel family, 272. 
Scup, 259. 

description, 260. 

tackle and fishing, 261. 
Scuppaug, 259. 
Sea-bass, 115. 

description, 1 15, 1 16. 

tackle and fishing, 117, 118. 
Sea-bass, family, 95, 285. 

black, 115. 

Gulf, 119. 

southern, 118. 
Sea-crawfish, 318. 
Sergeant-fish, 366, 374. 
Serranida, bass family, 85, 95, 285. 
Shad, 80. 
Sheepshead, 252. 

description, 252-254. 

tackle and fishing, 255-259. 
Sheepshead family, 251. 

lake, 232. 
Sheridan and Stager, 77. 
Shrimp, 321. 

SiluridcE, catfish family, 244. 
Silver-bass, 74. 
Small-mouth black-bass, 3. 
Smelt, 263, 269. 

description, 269. 

tackle and fishing, 270, 271. 



Index 



409 



Snapper, black, 371. 

dog, 337. 344- 

family, 336. 

lane, 337, 339. 

red, 337, 342. 

schoolmaster, 338, 345. 
Snook, 366. 

description, 366, 367. 

tackle and fishing, 368-370. 
Southern sea-bass, 118. 

description, 118. 

habits and habitat, 119. 
Spade-fish, 385. 
Spanish mackerel, 273. 

description, 273-275. 

tackle and fishing, 276-278. 
Spar idee, porgy family, 251, 347. 
Speckled perch, 74, 80. 
Spot, 228. 
Spotted weakfish, 376. 

description, 377, 378. 

tackle and fishing, 379, 380. 
Squeteague, 215. 
Squirrel-fish, 388. 

description, 388. 

tackle and fishing, 389. 
Stenotomus chrysops, scup, 251, 259. 
Sienotomus aculeatus, fair maid, 

259. 
Stizostedion canadense, sauger, 156, 

164. 
Stizostedion vitreum, pike-perch, 

156, 157. 
Stolephorus brownii, big anchovy, 

320. 
Stolephorus mitchilli, silver anchovy, 

320. 
Stolephorus: perfasciatus, banded 

anchovy, 320. 
Strawberry-bass, 73. 
Striped-bass, 96. 

description, 96-100. 

fly-fishing, 109. 

still-fishing, loi. 



Striped-bass \continued^ — 

surf-fishing, 104-108. 

tools and tackle, 101-105. 
Strombus, mollusk genus, 318, 339. 
Sunfish, black, 58. 

blue, 62. 

common, 69. 

family, i. 

long-eared, 65. 

red-breast, 67. 
Susquehanna salmon, 157. 

Tally- wag, 119. 

Tautogolabrus adspersus, cunner, 

263, 264. 
Ten-pounder, 361. 

description, 361, 362. 

tackle and fishing, 363-365. 
Thunder-pumper, 233. 
Thymallida:, grayling family, 173. 
Thymallus montanus, Montana 

grayhng, 173, 181. 
Thymallus signifer, Arctic grayling, 

173. 176. 

Thymallus tricolor, Michigan gray- 
ling, 173, 178. 

Tip-ups, 146. 

Tobacco-box, 65. 

Toboggan episode, 92-94. 

Trachinotus carolinus, common 
pompano, 307, 311. 

Trachinotus falcatus, round pom- 
pano, 312. 

Trachinotus glaucus, gaflf top-sail 
pompano, 312. 

Trachinotus goodei, permit pom- 
pano, 312. 

Triple-tail, 370. 

description, 370, 371. 
tackle and fishing, 372. 

Trolling-spoon, 141-143. 

Turbot, 390. 

description, 390, 391. 
habits and habitat, 392. 



4IO 



Index 



Wall-eyed pike, 157. 
Warmouth perch, 58. 

description, 58, 59. 

tackle and fishing, 60-62. 
Weakfish, 215. 

description, 215-217. 

tackle and fishing, 218-220. 
Weakfish, bastard, 221. 

deep-sea, 381. 

northern, 214. 

spotted, 376. 
Western pickerel, 153. 

description, 153. 

tackle and fishing, 154. 
White-bass, 86. 

description, 86. 

tackle and fishing, 87-89. 
Whitefish, Rocky Mountain, 204. 
White lake-bass, 86. 
White-perch, 1 10, 234. 

description, no, iii. 



White-perch [^continued'\ — 

tackle and fishing, 112, 113. 
Whiting, 221. 
Wonders of the sea, 327, 389, 390. 

Yellow-bass, 90. 

description, 90, 91. 

tackle and fishing, 92. 
Yellow-finned grouper, 294. 

description, 294. 

habits and habitat, 295. 
Yellow grunt, 326. 

description, 326. 

tackle and fishing, 327. 
Yellow-perch, 165. 

description, 165-167. 

tackle and fishing, 168-172. 
Yellow-tail, 338. 

description, 338. 

tackle and fishing, 339. 
Youthful angling, 72. 



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